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ALICE E. MURRAY. 








THE AMBITIONS OF A 
WORLDLY WOMAN 


BY 

ALICE E. MT^HHAY 



F. TENNYSON NEELY CO. 


CHICAGO 

L.- 


NEW YORK 


LONDON 





J^/ Oo 




the library of 

CONGRESS, 

Two Copita Received 

AUG. 5 1901 

Copyright entry 

(Xouj fr* 

CLASS ^ XXc. No. 

/ tf 3^M- 

COPY 3. 


Copyright, 1901, 
by 

ALICE E. MURRAY. 




• « • • 


• • •• • 


• * • 


THE AMBITIONS OF 

A WORLDLY WOMAN. 


CHAPTER I. 

In the year 1865, in the country village of 
C there lived a couple whose name, for a rea- 

son of the writer^s own, shall be known as that of 
Brown. 

John Brown was a fine looking man of five and 
twenty, and his wife a dashing woman of three and 
twenty, with eyes as black as coal and her magnifi- 
cent hair the color of the raven. 

As the years passed and children came to bless 
their happy home, Lettie Brownes one aim in life 
was to become rich. As she was always sure of her 
fond husband’s consent, she begged him to start 
out in the liquor business, as she maintained there 
was more money in it and was to be had more 
rapidly and easily by the sale of rum than by spin- 
ning in a woolen factory, which he was now doing. 

Accordingly John Brown secured a house in one 
of the busy highways of the village, where he 
started his new enterprise. He still held his posi- 
tion in the factory, while his wife undertook to 
look after their new business, which proved a 
veritable gold mine, for their bar was never with- 
out a customer nor their till without funds. 


2 


The Ambitions of 


In the same village lived a young couple just 
starting out in life, with every prospect of a happy 
future before them. 

Philip Burns was a young man of one and 
twenty, and an excellent workman. His wife, 
a beautiful young woman of nineteen, loved her 
husband dearly and Annie Burns found her love 
for her husband too great to chide him. 

‘Thilip, where have you been so late this even- 
ing?’^ his wife asked. 

^^Oh, I met some of my old friends and we 
stopped in at Brown’s. I’m sorry, wife, to have 
caused you anxiety.” 

^^Hever mind, Philip, dear, but I hope you will 
not stay from home so late again. You know I 
feel very lonely when you are not here.” 

^^John Brown and Letti^ certainly have a fine 
business up there, and are making money fast,” 
said her husband. 

^Thilip, I would rather not have my little chil- 
dren present to hear the conversation of people 
who know little of anything they may say or do 
when under the influence of rum.” 

^^WeU, Annie, I admit that it is not a very good 
business to be in when you have little children to 
bring up, but the Browns do not look at it in that 
way,” he replied. 

^‘My dear Philip, I would rather go from door 
to- door and ask for some honest labor than to 
enjoy the money that has been the downfall of my 
fellow creatures, which you know is always the case 
in the sale of rum,” his wife exclaimed. 


A Worldly Woman. 


3 


CHAPTER IL 

Five years have passed since John Brown started 
his new enterprise. His wife’s words have proven 
true, for he has madn money rapidly. A new place 
has been erected to fill the wants of his increasing 
business. He now has one of the finest bars 
within twenty miles of the village, great glittering 
mirrors from ceiling to floor, cases of beautiful 
stuffed birds and cut glass, with the added bril- 
liancy of his dashing black-eyed wife, as bar-maid 
— all is bait thrown out to lure the footsteps of the 
foolish, and the many who can trace their down- 
fall and blighted manhood to their first glass of 
rum in the gilded barroom of John Brown’s new 
hotel. 

Their family now numbers six children, four 
daughters and two sons. Mary Brown was the eld- 
est, and to her and her sister Hettie fell the care of 
their handsome new home. Their mother was very 
exacting in everything pertaining to her handsome 
dwelling, in fact, her house was run by clockwork, 
and the two eldest daughters found their lot in life 
far from pleasant in their magnificent home, under 
her proud, exacting rule. The younger members 


4 


The Ambitions of 


of the Brown family had a very good time, as 
Nellie, Agnes, Tom and Harold all attended the 
public school in the village, and their parents, 
being very much taken up by the pressing demands 
of their business, found very little time to bestow 
upon them. So they were free to roam at will and 
enjoy their young lives in any manner they chose. 
It mattered not what they did if they kept out of 
their busy parents^ way. 

^^Mary, why do I still find you at this ironing ? 
Here it is almost four o^clock and this work not 
finished. Your idleness almost makes me out of 
temper,^^ her mother exclaimed. 

‘^Mother, you know we had to stop to get lunch 
for those strangers who called.^^ 

‘‘1 always find you ready to offer your lame ex- 
cuses, but you know they have no weight in my esti- 
mation. Get to work and let me see every piece 
finished within half an hour. You are two of the 
most idle girls I ever knew. You are not worth 
your clothes. I spend more money upon you than 
would pay four good servants.^^ 

^^Well, mother, it would take four good women 
to do the work of this house as you wish it done.” 

‘‘'Mary, by the way you speak one would think 
that I needed instruction as to what this house 
requires. Please keep your information until I 
see fit to ask you for it. I wish to see no more 
such slow work as I have found here to-day,” she 
exclaimed, as she left the presence of her daugh- 
ter and swept her trailing skirts from the laundry. 

‘T knew we would be scolded for not having this 
work finished,” wearily said the girl. 


A Worldly Woman. 5 

am getting tired of mother’s conduct/’ an- 
swered her sister. 

“Why, we are driven like horses in performing 
the duties of this house. I wouldn’t mind it so 
much if we did not try our best to please her in 
everything, but I know that I, for one, will do 
so no longer. I am tired of being driven to death,” 
Mary exclaimed. 

“I know you feel disheartened,” said her sister 
sympathetically, “but mother never gives it a 
thought that the work of this house is too much 
for us or she would surely help us.” 

“It makes me so angry, for no matter what fault 
mother has to find with us she always flings it in 
our faces. The money she spends for our dresses 
I am sure she finds pleasure in, or you and I 
would often have to go begging for a new dress.” 

“I do hope you will excuse mother, for I know 
that she never gives it a thought when she speaks 
of all the money she spends upon us.” 

‘^ell, I think she knows how it hurts us to 
have her fling it in our face about the expense of 
our dress, and that is why she does it.” 

“I believe you would really let mother walk 
over you, Hettie, and you would never say a word, 
but I am not going to stand it any longer, and 
that is the end of it,’^ Mary exclaimed angrily. 


6 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTER HI. 

Philip Burns was left to go his way and we now 
find him a wreck, while his once happy home is 
overcast by gloom because of his love for strong 
drink. 

“Philip, I am sorry to see you have broken your 
promise again.’’ 

“Dear wife, I tried so hard to keep it, but it was 
all in vain. I met some of my old companions to- 
night and they invited me to join them in a glass, 
and, Annie dear, I know you would have pitied 
me had you heard the way they jeered when I re- 
fused their invitation. So I went with them and 
after having broken my promise to you I cared not 
what I did.’’ 

“Oh, Philip! it is the same old story. How 
much money have you squandered to-night ?” 

“This is all I have left from my week’s wages.” 

“What are we to do?” his heart-broken wife ex- 
claimed. “Only one dollar left out of twenty-five 
and your poor wife and children starving. Oh, 
God ! Look down upon us with mercy.” 

“Oh! If I only had the strength to keep my 
promise to you; but, dear wife, you do not know 
what it is to ho tempted as I have been to-night,” 


7 


A Worldly Woman. 

^^Dear Philip, if you could only conquer your 
false pride you would overcome your temptation,” 
she said sadly. ‘‘How am I to go to the store with- 
out the money I justly owe. It is winter and not 
a spark of fire for our grate ; all has gone for rum. 
Our poor children to be pointed at with scorn as 
the children of Philip Burns the drunkard.” 

“If I could only bring you back the money I 
have squandered to-night.” 

“Philip, you know that has gone forever. I 
myself must try to keep the wolf from the door, 
as my only hope is gone,” his wife replied, as she 
looked upon the besotted features of her husband, 
and heaved a deep, troubled sigh while tears of 
deep sorrow fell upon the sewing that she held in 
her hands. 

Katie approached her mother’s side and threw 
her arm around her neck. 

“Never mind, mother, dear, do not weep so,” 
Katie pleaded, as she wiped her heart-broken moth- 
er’s tear-stained face. “Mother, dear, do let me go 
to Mrs. Jones and see if we cannot get some sew- 
ing to do. You know you always said they were 
such true friends when you and father started 
out in life together.” 

“My dear child, things have changed since those 
happy days. The Joneses have wealth while we 
have only poverty. God’s ways seem very strange.” 

“I shil go and ask for work.” 

“I suppose you and Katie think you are going 
to have things all your own way, but you’re not, 
for I have a plan in view to help you.” 

“What is it, Frank?” his mother asked. 

“I shall start out to-morrow morning early to 


8 


The Ambitions of 


call on the people in onr neighborhood and ask 
them to give me work that I can do before and 
after school hours/’ 

'^Who would have thought of that ?” 

^^It may not be very much, but I shall do my 
best.” 

^^My dear children, I hope that you may both 
meet with the success your noble efforts merit and 
I trust that you will ask God to help you bear 
the trials that may overtake you, for you will find 
many. And now, good night, my dear children.” 

^Thilip, has it not touched your heart to hear 
those noble children’s plans ?” 

^‘Wife, it pains me very much.” 

^^Won’t you try for their sake to overcome your 
great appetite for rum, Philip ?” 

have tried so often, and it seems useless,” 
he replied.” 

^^Despair not of God’s great mercy,” his wife 
answered. 

^'How can you ever forgive me for all the sorrow 
I have caused you and the children by my love for 
rum ?” 

^^Do not forget, Philip, the words of the Lord, 
^forgive as we are to be forgiven,’ ” she answered. 
^^Shun your evil companions. They are but snakes 
in the grass to you. Your false pride is your be- 
setting sin. You would rather have the praises of 
your ill-chosen friends than their jeers, but the 
latter would be better for you to-night than all 
their honeyed words,” his wife exclaimed. 


A Worldly Woman. 


9 


CHAPTER IV. 

^^Mary, here is a letter for you.’^ 

^Tt is from Baltimore and Bella Brointon has 
invited me to pay her a visit/^ said Mary, after 
reading it. 

^^What a pleasure it would be for you, Mary,” 
Hettie exclaimed. 

^^Yes, but a double share of work to faU to your 
lot in my absence.” 

Agnes ran to her mother. 

^^Oh, mamma,” she exclaimed, ^^Mary has just 
received a letter from Bella Brointon, asking her 
to pay her a visit.” 

‘^Agnes, you are easily carried away,” her mother 
replied haughtily. 

^^DonT you think it would be fine, mamma, for 
Mary to have a few weeks^ rest ?” 

“Agnes, you speak as though Mary never did 
anything iDut work, and I know of no two girls who 
do less than she and Hettie.” 

“I think they do more work than any two girls 
I know.” 

“You know very little of what you are talking 
about and you are a, very poor judge. What did 


10 


The Ambitions of 


the girls at school have to say about your new 
dresses to-day?’^ 

‘^They went wild over them. They never saw 
anything like them before and Maud Eiger has 
invited Nellie and I up there on Saturday; but, 
mamma, we know she just wants her mamma’s 
dressmaker to copy our dresses.” 

^^Just as soon as Maud Eiger has a dress made 
like yours or Nellie’s you shan’t wear those dresses 
again. I suppose they all try to keep up to you 
girls in dress, but I shall certainly give them plenty 
to do if they try to keep up to my daughters.” 

heard one of the head teachers talking on 
dress to-day, and she said she had never seen a 
more queenly girl than Katie Bums ; no matter if 
it were only a poor, faded gingham, full of patches, 
Katie always looked better than any of us.” 

^^What ! That poor, starved looking thing. I 
never saw any beauty about her.” 

^^Mamma, you should look at her beautiful hair ; 
and her eyes are magnificent. Why, we school- 
girls have often seen strangers stop and look after 
Katie Burns, while we, with all our fine clothes, 
never caused anyone to stop and look at us, and 
I think that what the head teacher said must be 
true.” 

Agnes, I do not understand such taste,” Mrs. 
Brown exclaimed. ^‘By the way, Mary, what is 
going on in Baltimore, that Bella Brointon wishes 
you to go and see her?” 

“They are giving a grand ball on Thanksgiving 
Eve and Bella wants me to be there,” Mary an- 
swered. 

“Well, I suppose you must go.” 


A Worldly Woman. ii 

^^Why, mother, I could never think of such a 
thing as leaving Hettie to do all the work of this 
great house. If you would only bring in someone 
to help her I would enjoy my trip very much,” 
Mary replied. 

^^No stranger comes in here to slight my house 
work, so you can give up such a thought,” angrily 
responded the mother. ^^Who ever heard of such 
a thing. Hettie can do it all and have plenty of 
spare time.” 


12 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEE V. 

Mrs. Jones at home asked a sweet young 
voice as her ring was answered by a new Irish 
servant girl. 

^^Well ! Shure, I believe she is, miss.^’ 

^^May I see her?^^ 

^‘Shure and I will have to see her first afore I 
kin tell yez. My misthress is very busy at prisent,^^ 
Bridget replied, as she left Katie to go to her mis- 
tress. 

^^Shure, misthress, there is a swate young girl 
at the dure wantin’ to know if she can see you.” 

^^What is her name, Bridget?” her mistress in- 
quired. 

‘^Och, shure she has none.” 

^^Why, Bridget, how do you come to know that ?” 
her mistress laughingly asked. 

‘^Indade, misthress, she had no paper with a 
name on like the rest of the ladies and that is why 
I know she has none,” Bridget answered. 

^^You mean that the young lady has no card !” 
Mrs. J ones exclaimed. 

^^Well ! Shure. I guess that’s what you call it, 
hut indade I’ll never learn what you call half the 
things in this wild country,” Bridget exclaimed. 


A Worldly Woman. 13 

^^Kever mind, Bridget, you do very well to be 
only over a week, and we all have to learn,^’ 
Mrs. Jones said in a kind voice. ^^Go down and 
take the young lady into the drawing room and 
tell her to wait until I come down.” 

‘^What did you wish to see me about?” Mrs. 
J ones asked pleasantly, as she entered. 

came to see if you had any sewing or mend- 
ing that you wished to have done,” Katie re- 
plied. 

“Why, you are just the person I have been in- 
quiring for. Can you begin work this morning ?” 

“I would like to take it home. It was for 
my mother that I came to get the work and I am 
to help her at home with any work I may obtain,” 
Katie said. 

“What is your name?” Mrs. Jones inquired. 

“Katie Burns, and my mother’s name is Annie 
Bums. We live in the village of C .” 

“Burns ! What ! Is your father’s name 
Philip ? Well ! You are never Annie Burns’ 
daughter? What is your father’s trade?” 

“He is a carriage maker,” Katie replied. 

“How strange. To think I have found my 
old friends again,” Mrs. Jones exclaimed in sur- 
prise. “How are your dear mother and father?” 

“They are very well, thank you,” Kate answered. 

“Come into the dining room, dear, and let me 
give you a cup of coffee. You have had a long, 
cold ride this morning. What a surprise this will 
be to my husband. Your parents and my husband 
and I were schoolmates together,” Mrs. Jones said. 

“Yes, I have heard my mother speak of those 
happy years,” she answered. 


14 


The Ambitions of 


In a lew minutes a fair, handsome man of thirty- 
five entered the magnificent dining room. 

^^Well, Fannie, you really have caught me nap- 
ping this morning. I am at sea as to who this 
young lady may be,” her husband said as he 
scanned Katie Burns^ face. 

am going to let you guess.” 

‘‘1 gave it up the minute I entered this young 
lady’s presence,” he said, laughingly. 

am Philip Bums^ daughter,” Katie answered. 

‘This is indeed a surprise, and a pleasant one. 
Tell me how are all our old friends ?” he asked. 

“They are well,” Katie answered. 

“What is your father doing now?” 

“He is working at his trade.” 

“Is he not in business for himself then?” asked 
Mr. Jones in surprise. 

“Ko, sir,” Katie replied. 

“Well, that seems strange,” said Mr. Jones. “I 
always thought Philip would go in business for 
himself. Have you any brothers or sisters?” 

“I have one brother, sir.” 

“How old is he, Katie?” 

“Fourteen.” 

“And how old are you, my dear?” 

“I am sixteen,” she answered. 

“It makes one feel old to see the friends of 
their youth with grown-up children. I suppose, 
Fannie, you are going to enjoy the company of 
your old school friend’s daughter to-day.” 

“It certainly would be a great pleasure to me,” 
said Katie, “but I must go home on the earliest 
train. Mother will be so anxious until I return.” 

“I am sorry to hear that, Katie. I had set my 


A Worldly Woman. 15 

heart upon having you meet my two daughters, 
Ethel and May, but I will not detain you if you 
really must go/’ said Mrs. Jones. ^^George, are 
you going down town now?^’ 

^^Yes, Fannie, I have an engagement at the office 
at ten,^^ her husband answered. 

^^Well, I have a little business for you to attend 
to before you leave home this morning,” Mrs. 
Jones said. 

‘^All right, Fannie dear. Is it to be the dress- 
maker or the candlestick maker this morning ?” 

‘‘^It happens to be neither, my dear,” she an- 
swered. 

‘‘^Come into the library then, Fannie. Time is 
going. Good-bye, Katie, and please remember me 
to your parents. I will call to see them very 
soon, now that I know where to find them.” 

^^Thank you, Mr. Jones,” Katie replied, 
am very much afraid that everything is not 
as it should be in the home of our old school- 
mates,” said Mrs. Jones, as they entered the li- 
brary. 

^^hy?” he asked in surprise. 

^^ell, George, Annie Burns’ daughter came to 
our door this morning for work.” 

“1 am very sorry to hear that. I do wonder 
what ill luck has overtaken them.” 

^Tndeed, I do not know, but I do know that 
something is wrong.” 

^Then, dear, do not allow their daughter to 
leave our house without a gift. They have too 
much spirit for charity. I shall make it my busi- 
ness to see them myself very soon. Is not Katie 


r6 The Ambitions of 

a beautiful girl ? Wbat a magnificent woman she 
will make/^ he exclaimed. 

^^Yes, and such charming manners. I would 
really like our daughters to cultivate them.^^ 
^^My dear, it would be to anyone’s advantage to 
do so, but I must leave you now, or I shall reach 
the office too late.” 

‘^Good-bye, dear husband.” 

She hastened to Katie. 

vrill select some work for you to take and the 
5rest I will send by express; and, Katie, I have a 
little present for your dear mother. It has just 
been fifteen years since we met and tell her that I 
hope she will celebrate our reunion in a fitting 
manner. Good-bye, dear. Tell your mother that 
I hope to have the pleasure of seeing her very soon 
and I wish you would come in often. I know my 
daughters would be delighted to know you.” 

shall be very happy to meet your daughters, 
and T know that I should enjoy their company 
very much,” Katie replied. ^'Good-bye, Mrs. 
Jones,” she said, as she left the woman who had 
been so kind to her. 


A Worldly Woman. 


17 


CHAPTEK VI. 

“Mart, I do hope you will try to make the 
acquaintance of a desirable young man at this 
ball, for I have spared no expense on your ball 
gown, and I think it is high time you were making 
a choice of a husband. I feel sure that you will 
meet many young men of wealth at this ball, and 
with your good looks and this magnificent dress, 
you should have no trouble in securing a prize, but 
I would far rather see you an old maid than the 
wife of a poor man. I have noticed lately that you 
spend a great deal of time in the society of Arthur 
Long and I wish to see no more of such conduct. 
You really shock me. You have no ambition,’'' 
her mother said with scorn. 

“Mamma, I know nothing he has ever done that 
you or any other lady should pass him by unno- 
ticed,” she exclaimed. 

“Oh, mamma, Mary’s ball dress has just come 
home and we are all waiting to see it.” 

The box was opened and exclamations of de- 
light were heard from all. 

“Is it not a dream, mamma ! You always select 
such beautiful things. I think you must make a 
study of it,” Nellie exclaimed. 


i8 


The Ambitions of 


is only a matter of taste and there yon have 
the key to my success/^ her mother replied. 

^^Mary, let ns look at yon in this beantifnl gown. 
I am snre there will not be one dress at the ball 
half so stnnning as this/^ Nellie exclaimed in de- 
light. 

^^Well, Nellie, if yon really wish it, I shall grant 
yonr reqnest, as I shall array myself in all this 
finery to-night,’^ Mary said, as she picked np the 
box that contained her magnificent ball gown and 
hastened from the sitting room. 

Three days had passed by when Mary stood in 
the hall dressed in a well-fitting traveling costnme 
of silver gray broadcloth, when Jim Smith ap- 
peared in the doorway to annonnce that the car- 
riage was in readiness to take Miss Brown to the 
depot. Mary gave them all a fond farewell and 
stepped into the waiting vehicle. 

On arrival at the depot, the express for Balti- 
more was soon announced, when she found herself 
seated in a luxurious chair of a Pullman coach, 
and the train soon pulled out from the depot. 
Two hours had gone by when the express pulled 
into the Baltimore depot, and Mary alighted upon 
the platform, where she was received by Bella 
Brointon, who bid her a very gushing welcome. 

^^Here we are at home. How delighted mamma 
will be to see you. It has been so long since we 
have had a visit from you. I knew she would be 
waiting. I shall be quite jealous of you, dear.” 

‘^Eeally, Mary, I thought you would never arrive. 
I have counted the hours by minutes.” 

^^Our train was delayed, Bella dear. How are 


A Worldly Woman. 19 

your mother and all the people home?’^ Mary 
asked. 

^^Mamma is very well ; in fact, everyone is well/^ 
Bella replied. ^^The boys are delighted to know 
that you have accepted my invitation/^ Bella ex- 
claimed. ‘^Mary, how well you look after your 
long journey. I am always a fright after I travel, 
even a short distance, by rail.” 

“I enjoy it,” Mary answered. 

^‘'One would know you do from your fresh looks,” 
Bella said. 

The two young women then entered the car- 
riage and were soon driving over the well-paved 
highway. After a drive of twenty minutes the 
carriage entered the avenue that led to the 
Brointons^ homestead, when a colored groom ad- 
vanced to assist the fair young ladies from the 
vehicle. They ran lightly up the wide, marble 
steps and received a cheerful welcome from Mrs. 
Brointon, who stood at the open doorway with a 
sweet smile upon her well-preserved features, as 
she bid her guest enter the lofty, old-fashioned 
hallway, where a bright coal fire blazed in the wide 
open grate. A beautiful deer hound sprang up 
from the leopard skin rug and greeted their en- 
trance with a peal of loud barking. 

^^Be quiet, Bruce,” Bella exclaimed, when the 
brute again stretched himself upon the leopard 
skin. 

‘^How glad I am to see you. Miss Brown. I 
hope you feel no ill effects from your long 
journey.” 

^^ISTo, Mrs. Brointon, I feel very well. Mother 
always insists upon our taking a Pullman car, and 


20 


The Ambitions of 

I think it is a necessary luxury, for they are so 
comfortable,” Mary said. 

^^Show Miss Brown her room, Bella, and help 
her off with her wraps.” 

^^Come, Mary, you will have time enough before 
the bell rings for lunch, and I know you are in 
need of something to eat.” 

‘^On the contrary, Bella, I am not hungry in 
the least. I had something to eat on my way 
through,” Mary answered. 

^^Oh, Mary, I am so delighted, I can scarcely 
wait until the evening of the ball. I know you 
will enjoy it, too. It is going to be a very select 
affair, and you are sure to meet many fine young 
people. I am to enjoy the pleasure of having one 
of my dear young friends come out to-night, and I 
know that dear Violet will cause a fiutter. She 
is very pretty. I am sure you will be pleased with 
her when you meet her, for Violet Carstein is loved 
by all who have the good fortune to know her. 
Papa always tells us she is well named, she is so 
lovely and retiring.” 

^^Bella, dear, I am afraid with so many beauties 
present, you and I will be forced to act as wall 
flowers,” Mary said in a gay tone. 

^^Indeed, Mary, I fear nothing of the kind,” 
Bella answered. 


A Worldly Woman. 


21 


CHAPTER VIL 

“I AM SO glad to see you home again, Katie, and 
I know by your bundle that your journey has not 
been useless. Did you go anywhere else but to 
Mrs. J ones’ ?” her mother inquired. 

“Ko, mother, I found that Mrs. Jones’ work 
would keep us busy for some time.” 

^‘Did you bring it all home, dear?” 

^‘Ko, mother, Mrs. Jones is to send a package 
by express,” Katie replied. 

^^How did Mrs. Jones treat you?” 

'^Mother, you would really have thought I was 
some great lady by the manner in which Mrs. 
Jones and her husband received me/’ she ex- 
claimed. 

‘T hardly thought that wealth would make any 
change in our old friends, but one never can tell 
in these days what changes wealth may make,” 
replied ’her mother. 

“They are so glad to know where you reside, 
and Mrs. Jones has sent you this letter and said 
she hoped that you would celebrate the reunion 
of your old friends, as it has been just fifteen 
years to-day since you all met.” 


22 


The Ambitions of 


‘^How the years do fly. Look what is in this 
letter,” her mother exclaimed in surprise. ‘^You 
surely have gotten the wrong letter from Fannie 
Jones.” 

‘^No, mother dear, there can be no mistake, be- 
cause Mrs. Jones came into the dining room her- 
self and addressed this very letter to you; but 
you have not yet read it.” 

^^Just think of it, Katie. Fannie Jones has 
enclosed fifteen dollars in this letter, to represent 
the years we have been apart.” 

^^That is just what a kind-hearted woman like 
Mrs. Jones would think of doing,” said Katie. 

^^Did you tell Mrs. Jones how poor we really 
were ?” 

^^Oh, mother, why do you ask such a question? 
You know I never would ask alms while I could 
be self-supporting. Mr. Jones was very much sur- 
prised when I told him father was working at his 
trade. He was sure father had started out in 
business for himself.” 

^Toor Philip, he might have been, only for the 
curse of rum,” her mother said sadly. ^^Katie, 
if I thought that Fannie Jones had sent me this 
money out of charity, I could not accept one cent 
of it even though we are so poor.” 

‘^1 know Mrs. J ones never intended to insult you, 
mother. She meant it as a gift.^^ 

suppose I must write to Fannie and thank 
her for her kindness in remembering us in all 
the years we have been separated, and, Katie, I 
have decided this morning to go up and request 
Lettie Brown and her husband to sell Philip no 
more rum. I must try to save your father from 


A Worldly Woman. 23 

filling a drunkard’s grave !” she exclaimed in sor- 
row. 

‘‘Mother, I dread to have you meet that proud, 
cruel woman. I think you had better give up your 
mission.” 

“Katie, I must do my duty, no matter how hard 
it may appear.” 

“I only hope Mrs. Brown will not refuse your 
request, mother.” 

“Well, dear, I will start and have the unpleasant 
work over,” her mother replied, as she kissed Katie 
good-bye and left her own humble home to seek 
a kindness from a cruel, proud woman. 


24 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEK VIII. 

did you ever see anything more beau- 
tiful than Mary? And what a magnificent ball 
gown,” Bella exclaimed with delight. 

^^Miss Brown, you may make up your mind to 
being the belle of our ball to-night, dear.” 

^^Who selected your gown for you, Miss Brown ?” 
Mrs. Brointon inquired. 

‘^My mother,” answered Mary. 

^^She has displayed the utmost taste.” 

^'Here is the carriage,” said Bella as she took 
Mary’s arm and danced into the hall. 

^‘^Who is that beautiful girl in the Brointon 
set 

‘‘I will have to seek an introduction before I 
can enlighten you,” Grant’s friend answered. 

‘^Here come Harry Carstein and his lovely 
cousin. We’ll ask him to introduce our set to 
Miss Brointon’s beautiful friend.” 

^^Good evening, Harry. You are always sure 
to turn up just when you are wanted most.” 

‘^ell, what is it to be to-night, Walter?” 


A Worldly Woman. 25 

^^Why, just lead our set over to Miss Brointon’s. 
We are longing to learn the name of that beau- 
tiful girl at her side.^^ 

“You will not have very long to wait, Walter, as 
I am just taking my cousin Violet to Miss Broin- 
ton,” he replied. 

“My dear Violet, I have been waiting for you. 
Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Miss 
Brown.-’’ 

“Miss Brointon, I have a large circle of friends 
seeking the same kind favor of you.” 

“All right, Mr. Carstein, but I am afraid I will 
have to select you to help me do the honors, for 
you know I have dear Violet’s welfare to attend to 
to-night,” Bella exclaimed. 

“I hope you will enjoy our ball. Miss Brown,” 
said Harry Carstein, when he at last found an 
opportunity to talk to Mary. 

“I think I am sure to do so. I enjoy dancing 
so much,” Mary replied. 

“Are not the decorations beautiful, Harry?” 
Violet asked. 

“I hardly think they could be more lovely.” 

Mary Brown was indeed a beautiful picture in 
her magnificent ball gown of shimmering black 
tulle, made over a dress of crimson satin, and 
looped up by beautiful crimson rosebuds, while 
in the coils of her exquisite blue-black hair were 
the same flowers nestling among their own dark 
green foliage, showing off her cold, proud beauty 
in all its glory, and many were the exclamations 
of admiration that fell upon her ear as Harry Car- 
stein led her to the place of honor to lead the 
grand march of the ball. 


26 


The Ambitions of 


Mary Brown enjoyed the great pleasure of being 
the belle of the ball room. When her partner led 
her to her chair, her large dark eyes sparkled in 
delight, for her heart had found its idol. 

‘‘Miss Brown, may I have one rosebud ?’’ Harry 
asked as he led her to a quiet nook after the first 
waltz had ended. 

“Certainly, Mr. Carstein, if you really wish it,^^ 
she said, as she selected a half-blown bud from 
her dress and placed it in his hand. 

“Now, Miss Brown, may I ask you to be my 
partner for this waltz he asked. 

“I suppose you may place your name upon my 
tablet, as I feel rather tired, and I shall not dance 
any more this morning,’^ she answered. 

When the last strains of the waltz had died 
away, Harry led his beautiful partner to a chair. 

“Now, Miss Brown, I have still another request 
to ask of you,^^ he said. “May I call to see you 
during your stay at the Brointons’ 

“I shall be pleased to have you do so, Mr. Car- 
stein,” she answered. 

“Mary, I have been looking for you everywhere, 
as the carriage is waiting for us,” Bella exclaimed, 
as she approached the chair of her friends. 

“Very well, Bella, I shall be ready to leave in 
a few moments,” Mary answered. 

“Good night, Mr. Carstein, or rather good morn- 
ing, as it is just four o’clock,” Bella said, while 
Mary Brown placed her fair hand into Harry Car- 
stein’s and bade him farewell, as he closed the car- 
riage door. 

“Oh, Mary, I am delighted to see that you have 


A Worldly Woman. 27 

carried off the prize of our Thanksgiving ball. 
How delighted mamma will be ; and, just think of 
it, Harry Carstein has lost his heart to-night as 
he stopped until the end of our ball,’^ Bella ex- 
claimed. 

that anything new for your friend?’^ Mary 
asked, in surprise. 

^^My dear girl, it is the first time Harry Car- 
stein has ever been known to do such a thing,” 
Bella replied. 

^^He is an excellent dancer,” Mary said. 

‘^Well, dear, if you only knew Harry as we do, 
you would wonder that he could do anything with- 
out doing it well. Mamma says that Harry al- 
ways puts his whole heart into everything he at- 
tempts to do, no matter how trifiing it may be. 
And, Mary, you should just see how devoted he is 
to his mother. It is really a beautiful sight to see 
them together, he is so very attentive to her.” 

‘^Where does he live, Bella?” Mary inquired. 

^‘They are our nearest neighbors. Their land 
and ours adjoin,” Bella answered. ^^Harry Car- 
stein is an orphan and he and his mother make 
their home with his uncle. I do want you to meet 
Harry’s mother before you go home. She is a 
lovely old lady.” 

^^Are they wealthy?” Mary asked. 

^^No, dear, Harry has his uncle to thank for 
everything, but he has been treated as an only son. 
To his uncle he owes thanks for his college course, 
and for ever3rthing in fact.” 

^^At what does he employ his time?” Mary 
asked. 


28 Ambitions of 

\ '' 

iff employed as a clerk in liis uncle’s busi- 
ness house/’ Bella answered. 

^^And why have yon not captured this handsome 
young man for yourself?” Mary laughingly in- 
quired. 

couldn’t very well/’ Bella answered ; ^die has 
no time for anyone but his dear mother.” 


A Worldly Woman. 


29 


CHAPTER IX. 

Katie Burns’ mother is out in the 
hall and she has requested to see you for a few 
moments.” 

‘‘Agnes, why have you ever brought her into 
the hall? Why didn’t you let her wait in the 
kitchen?” her mother asked in anger. 

“Hiow could I, when she rang the front door 
bell ?” Agnes retorted. 

“I never saw the like of some people. I do not 
know what they take me for. J ust think of a poor 
wretch like her coming to my front door. I have 
almost a mind to tell her what I think of her,” 
angrily said Mrs. Brown as she swept from the 
room to meet her neighbor of years gone by. 

“How do you do, Mrs. Brown?” said Mrs. 
Bums, as the proud woman of the world appeared. 

“I was told that you had requested to see me. 
Do not keep me waiting all day. What do you 
wish of me?” said Mrs. Brown in her scornful 
manner. 

“Well, Lettie, for the sake of old friendship, I 
am here to implore you, for the welfare of Philip 
Burns and his family not to sell him any more 
rum,” she said in a tearful voice. 


30 


The Ambitions of 


^^Annie Bums, how dare you come into my 
home and dictate to me how I am to conduct my 
own business ? I have attended to my own affairs 
this long and I do not feel at this late day that I 
am in need of anyone like you coming here to tell 
me what I am to do or not to do. What is your 
drunken husband to me?^^ she said as she threw 
back her haughty head. 

^‘Oh, Lettie Brown, how can you be so cruel? 
Have you not a woman’s heart within your cold, 
proud breast ?” said Mrs. Burns, in tears. 

^^Begone, Annie Burns, and never allow me to 
see you ringing my front door bell again. Here, 
Agnes, conduct this poor creature out through the 
kitchen.” 

^^May God forgive you, Lettie, as I this day 
forgive you from my poor heart for the cruel words 
you have spoken,” Mrs. Burns said as Agnes Brown 
led her through the magnificent hallway to her 
mother’s kitchen door, where she bade her a kind 
good-bye, but the poor broken-hearted woman never 
heard her, for her heart was too deeply stung by 
the words of her hard-hearted neighbor. 

do wish that mamma was not so cold and 
proud. How she hurt poor Katie Burns’ mother. 
I only wish that that poor woman had never come 
here to be treated so by mamma.” Such were the 
thoughts of Agnes Brown after she had left Mrs. 
Burns at her mother’s door. She knew that it 
would be useless for her to say anything to her 
mother in regard to her cruelty. 

Hettie Brown was a beautiful girl of nineteen, 
with a luxurious head of hair and a transparent 
complexion, which was lighted by a pair of mag- 


A Worldly Woman. 31 

nificent large, brown eyes that were full of kind- 
ness and love. She had none of the haughtiness 
so marked in her mother’s manner, bnt was loved 
by everyone who knew her. 

^‘Agnes, I know it will be impossible for me to 
finish all my sweeping to-day with the thousand 
and one things I have to do. How I do miss 
Mary,” Hettie said; ^^but I don’t care if mother 
is angry and does scold me. I can’t do any more 
than I am able to.” 

hope Mary is enjoying her visit,” Agnes 

said. 

hope so, too, my dear, for it is not all pleas- 
ure we have here at home,” Hettie answered. 

wonder how you girls ever get along with 
mamma scolding you all day long and always find- 
ing fault with your work; but, Hettie, dear, Nellie 
and I will lend you a helping hand if you are 
afraid of having mamma get angry with you,” 
Agnes said. 

^^Never mind, dear, I would rather take a scold- 
ing from mother than have you or Nellie scolded. 
You had better go in and finish practicing, as your 
friends will soon be here for you to go out with 
them.” 

^^Well, then, Hettie, if you won’t allow me to 
help you I had better go in to my music. Good- 
bye,” said Agnes as she left the room. 

^^Nellie, I do not know what can be the matter 
with my poor head, it feels so funny,” Hettie said. 

know what is the matter with you,” said 
Nellie; ^^it is just all the worry you have about 
this work. You have had too much work to do 


32 


The Ambitions of 


since Mary went away/’ saying which she laid her 
hand on Hettie’s hot brow. 

f^Why, no, hTellie, dear, that has nothing to do 
with my headache. But, oh, what on earth can 
be wrong with my poor head ?” she asked. ^^Nellie, 
I shall try to walk to my room if you will help me 
upstairs.” 

^^Hettie, here is Tom, and he will take your arm 
and help you. Do come, Tom! Help me up- 
stairs with Hettie. Why do you stand there look- 
ing so helpless?” Nellie asked. 

‘^How strange Hettie looks,” Tom said. ^^What 
has made her face so red?” 

^‘Just as though I could answer your question, 
Tom,” said Nellie. ^^Now, Hettie, dear, let me 
undress you so you will feel easier.” 

^^Never mind, Nellie, just leave me alone and 
tell mother that I am ill,” Hettie said. 

^^Mamma, our Hettie is very ill,” Nellie said as 
she entered the room in which her mother was 
sitting. 

^^She can’t be very ill for I was in the dining 
room only half an hour ago and she was doing 
her work as usual,” her mother said in surprise. 

^^She was talking to me when she was taken ill,” 
Nellie replied. 

^Tsn’t this too bad I I don’t know why Hettie 
should choose to get ill at this trying time, when 
Mary is away from home. What am I ever to do ? 
And all this housework to attend to,” she ex- 
claimed in dismay. 

^^Don’t you think you had better send down for 
Dr. Smith to come to see Hettie ?” asked Nellie in 
alarm. 


A Worldly Woman. 33 

is not as ill as that. She has just gone 
to bed to escape this work,” she said in anger. 

IJellie went up to Hettie’s room only to return 
immediately and insist on Tom going in haste for 
Dr. Smith. 

‘T know mamma will not see fit to have him 
come,” she said. 

‘^All right, Nellie, but I hope you will not say 
that I was the one who brought him without 
mother^s consent. You know she hates him like 
thunder,” said Tom. 

^‘Well, I don’t see why she should,” Nellie said. 

‘T’m off, whatever may be the cost,” said Tom 
as he left the room. 

^^Oh, Dr. Smith, how glad I am that you have 
come,” Nellie said as the old physician entered 
Hettie’s room. 

^^What have you been trying to do ?” he asked, 
have been trying to remove Hettie’s dress, 
but I have found it impossible,” she answered. 

‘^here is your mother, Nellie?” 

^^Mamma is attending to the business, as father 
has been called from home.” 

^Ts there no one here but yourself, Nellie?” he 
asked. 

am the only one at present,” she replied. 

‘^Well, Nellie, you will have to leave this sick 
room at once, as this is no place for you, my child,” 
the doctor said in his kin^ fatherly way. 

^^But, Dr. Smith, someone must stay with 
Hettie,” she said. 

^^You go downstairs, Nellie, and let your mamma 
know that I desire her presence at once, and I 
.want you to stay out of this room until I give yon 


34 


The Ambitions of 


permission to enter. This is no place for yon, my 
child,” he said, as Nellie prepared to leave the 
room. 

‘^Mamma, Dr. Smith wishes to see yon in 
Hettie’s room at once,” she said as she entered the 
pleasant sitting room in which her proud mother 
was. 

^‘1 would like to know who has brought Dr. 
Smith here?” the woman demanded in anger. 

did, mamma. Hettie was so very ill I 
couldnT help it,” Nellie said. 

^^Nellie, I should very much like to know who is 
\mistress here, you or I?” her mother said. 

“Well, mamma, I hope I have done no great 
wrong,” Nellie said, “but I simply couldnT see 
Hettie so ill and have no physician.” 

“Miss Nellie, I wish you to understand that as 
long as you are in this house you must never act as 
you have to-day.” 

^^All right, mamma, it will never happen again.” 

“Mrs. Brown, I find we have a very sick girl 
here,” the doctor said as the woman entered the 
room. 

“What is the trouble?” she demanded. 

“Your daughter has been run down by over- 
work that she had fallen a victim to the dreadful 
disease that has broken out in our town. It is 
nothing more or less than a severe case of small- 
pox,” he said. 

“Oh ! what am I to do ? There is our business 
to be looked after and it will never do to have it 
noised about that there is a case of smallpox here 
in this house,” she said. 

“Do not let your business interests make you 


A Worldly Woman. 35 

blind to your daughter’s welfare. Her interest 
should come first,” he replied. ‘‘I shall send old 
Kate, who lives in the hollow, up here to take 
care of your daughter. She is a faithful old soul 
and as this house is very large you can easily have 
this wing shut ofi from the rest of the house, and 
your daughter can be kept in this room without 
danger to anyone here. I’ll send Kate up as soon 
as possible to take charge of Hettie,” he said as 
he bade Mrs. Brown ^^good night” and left the 
house. 

“Well, of all things, was there ever anything so 
trying as this ? I must think of some way to over- 
come this thing before I sleep.” Such were the 
proud woman’s thoughts as she sank into a chair 
after the doctor had gone. “I must act quickly,” 
she said as she touched the bell that brought Jim 
Smith, the hostler, from his work. 

“Jim,” said his mistress as he came into the 
dining room, “have you seen that crazy Frank 
Carr hanging around to-night?” 

“No, mum,” he answered. 

“Well, keep a lookout for him and let him know 
that I wish him to come into the kitchen. He is 
sure to be hanging around somewhere to beg a 
drink from someone!” she exclaimed. 

“All right,” Jim replied as he left the presence of 
his mistress. 

“Good evening, Kate, how are you ?” 

“I believe I’m well.” 

“I’m very sorry, Kate, but I thought you 
couldn’t come, so I had to get someone else.” 

“I is jest as well pleased,” answered the darky. 
“Here^ Kate^ is something to take back home 


The Ambitions of 


36 

with you. You’ve had a long walk up here in the 
cold and you will find that to be very good rum, 
Kate,” the proud lady said. 

‘^^Well, I neber. If you doan be giben me a full 
quart of good rum,” Kate exclaimed. ^^How kind 
you is, misses ! I think them thar white folks 
must tell great lies, for they do say that you am 
the proudest and crudest hearted woman that eber 
did live, and, just think of it, you have given poor 
old black Kate a quart of good rum,” she ex- 
claimed. 

^^Kate, I will have to say good night to you. I 
am very busy at present.” 

^^Well, I guess old Kate will say good night, for 
she knows the misses hab lots of trouble on her 
mind to-night,” Kate replied as she left Mrs. 
Brown’s kitchen. 

^^Oh ! but I know what that proud woman do be 
about and I shall just sit up all this night, for they 
would have to pass my hut to take the poor honey 
there,” Kate excitedly exclaimed as she walked 
away. 

“Well, Frank, where have you been all evening?” 
Mrs. Brown asked as the crazy creature entered the 
kitchen. 

“Eight here,” he replied. 

“Here is something to warm you up after 
being out in the col^” she said as she handed 
Frank Carr a glass of strong rum, which he drank 
like so much water. As he placed the empty glass 
upon the table she said, “Now, Frank, I want you 
to be here at one o’clock to-morrow morning to take 
a stranger who is ill to the hospital. Not a word 
to anyone, remember. When your job is done, 


A Worldly Woman. 37 

Frank, you are to come back here and I will meet 
you in this kitchen and pay you well for your work, 
but you must be here at four o^ clock or you get 
neither rum nor money. Be faithful, Frank, and 
you will get plenty of both. Now you have heard 
my orders you will know what to do.’^ 

“I will, ma’am,^^ he answered. 

^‘^Well, go now until it is time for you to do 
your work, but remember, Frank,^^ she said as she 
opened the door and dismissed him into the night, 
“not one word about this is to be said to anyone.’^ 

She rang the bell that led to the stable. As Jim 
Smith appeared in answer to her command she 
said: 

“Jim, do you think that Maggie Burke is still 
stopping with your sister 

“Yes, ma^am,^^ she answered. 

“Well, I want you to take the nine-forty train 
into the city, and if you find Maggie Burke bring 
her back with you in the morning, and here is 
some money for you. I have requested Frank Carr 
to look after the horses in the morning for you, 
but I hope you will return as early to-morrow as 
you can.^" 

“Very well, mistress, I will not delay,’^ Jim re- 
plied. 

“Is Hettie feeling any better, mamma Agnes 
inquired as she returned home from the home of 
one of her friends, where she had spent the even- 
ing. 

“Yes, Hettie is much better, and I do wish that 
you would not make so much fuss over nothing,^' 
exclaimed her mother. “I want you all to go 
over to the west wing of the house to sleep to- 


The Ambitions of 


38 

night. The doctor has left some very strong medi- 
cine to make Hettie sleep,” she said. 

‘^All right, mamma, I shall tell Nellie and the 
hoys when they come home. What shall we do 
without Mary or Hettie^s help in the house?” 
she inquired. 

“I shall find someone to do my work just as 
well as they have ever done it,” she answered 
angrily. “Where are the rest of them that they 
are not home? It is almost ten and they should 
be home by now.” 

^^They are skating, mamma,” Agnes replied. 

“It is a beautiful night, the moon is so full. 
Why have you returned so soon?” her mother 
asked. 

“I did not go down to the creek to skate to-night, 
mamma,” Agnes answered. 


A Worldly Woman. 


39 


CHAPTER X. 

^^Mother, are you ill?” Katie Bums asked as 
her mother entered the door. 

^^No, dear, I am only very tired,” her mother 
replied. 

‘‘Mother, dear, you really look ten years older 
than when you left home this morning. I’m sure 
you received a cruel blow, and it has been from the 
hand of that proud, cold woman, Mrs. Brown,” 
Katie exclaimed as she placed a chair for her 
mother before the cheerful fire. “Why did you 
go, dear, to let that haughty woman insult you?” 

“Perhaps it would have been as well, my dear, 
if I had not gone, but it is too late to regret, 
and thank God everyone is not so cruel as Lettie 
Brown,” her mother answered. “Katie, I do wish 
you would go up to the store and pay our little 
bill, then bring back what we are in need of. 
How little Fannie Jones will ever know what a 
blessing her present has been to us this day. 
Our trials seem hard to bear, Katie, but God has 
never yet forsaken us in all our darkest hours. Let 
us try to bear it all, my child, for His dear sake/^ 


40 The Ambitions of 

she said. ^^Well, Frank, how have you made out 
to-day 

‘^Mother, dear, I have met with great success 
to-day. Mr. Davis took me up to the Tines’ 
and recommended me to Mrs. Penrose. As she 
was looking for someone to do her work, and found 
that I would suit her, she hired me to do the chores 
for her before and after school hours, and I am 
to receive two dollars and a half a week,” Frank 
exclaimed in delight. 

^^Just think what a great help that will be to 
us, my dear boy !” his mother exclaimed. 


A Worldly Woman. 


41 


CHAPTER XL 

"Hs that you, Franks 
here,” he replied. 

'^Make haste. I thought you were not coming,” 
said Mrs. Brown as she led the way to Hettie’s 
room. ^^Come, Frank ! Lift the sick lady up and 
carry her to the cart, and after you have put her 
into it drive as quickly as you can to the hos- 
pital. When you reach there, ring the bell and 
say very bad case,^ but say no more. Come 
back here and I will be waiting for you, as I have 
already told you,” she commanded. 

^^What a relief it is to have that trial over. 
I can rest now, and I think I had better, for I 
will have to meet that hateful Dr. Smith in the 
morning. I shall prove a match for him though. 
How I do hate him. He has his eyes set upon 
one^s face so that I always feel as though he could 
read one’s very soul. I shall have a week or more 
before J ohn comes home,” she thought. 

As the clock struck four she said, ^Trank will 
be home soon, and I shall then know whether 
my plans have been successfully carried out.” 

When at last she heard his footsteps upon the 
porch she went to the door to let him in. 


42 


The Ambitions of 


^^Well done, Frank; here is yonr money and 
your rum. You may stop in the stable until 
dawn, when you must be up and off, and if you 
dare show your crazy face around here I shall 
have you put in jail. Go now, Frank, and do not 
forget my warning,’^ she said. 

must get some rest, for I shall need it to- 
day. I have to face old Dr. Smith and I have a 
strange woman to see to,” she said to herself 
as she went to her room. Little she thought how 
her night’s work would end, but what cared she 
for the daughter she had turned from her home ? 


A Worldly Woman. 


43 


CHAPTER XIL 

When Mary Brown opened her eyes she found 
the sun high in the heavens. ‘^My! How late 
it must be! I have slept so soundly! I sup- 
pose I must have been tired after my night of dis- 
sipation,” she thought. 

Bella knocked upon Mary’s door and as Mary 
bade her enter she exclaimed : 

‘^Why, Bella, how late it must be ! lam almost 
ashamed to go down to breakfast so late.” 

‘‘Why, my dear, I have not as yet been down- 
stairs to-day,” replied Bella, “and we shall only 
have mamma to greet us, dear.” 

“Suppose we go down now,” said Mary, as she 
placed her arm in Bella’s and led the way to the 
dining room. 

“Mamma, dear, this is the last act after the 
ball,” Bella said laughingly as she kissed her 
mother’s cheek. 

“I hope you have rested well,” Mrs. Brointon 
said as the girls sat down. 

“Well, I should think we have,” said Mary. 
“Why, it is two o’clock ! The poor boys ! How 
tired they must be after dancing all night.” 

“I don’t suppose they mind it, dear,” Mrs. 
Brointon replied. 


44 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTER XlII. 

I wish you and Agnes to go to your 
Aunt Kate’s this morning, so go and get ready,” 
her mother said as the girls rose from the break- 
fast table. ^^Harold, go and tell Tom to get the 
carriage ready to take the girls to the station,” 
she commanded. 

^<Why, where is Jim Smith?” Harold inquired 
in surprise. 

‘^He will not be here until noon to-day,” his 
mother replied. 

^^Here comes Jim now, mamma, and there is 
a woman with him!” Harold exclaimed in sur- 
prise. 

"Jim, you certainly have not lost any time, 
and I see you have brought Maggie Burke back 
with you,” Mrs. Brown said as Jim appeared. 

"I suppose you have come ready for work, 
Maggie,” said the haughty mistress. 

"Well, shure mum, I believe work is me trade,” 
Maggie replied very independently. 

"Come upstairs and take off your wraps so 
that you may go to work at once,” Mrs. Brown 
commanded. "When you are ready come down- 
stairs and I will instruct you in what you -are to 


A Worldly Woman. 45 

do. Come Nellie and Agnes, if you do not hurry 
you will miss the train/^ she said. 

‘^We are ready, mamma. Good-bye.’^ 

^^Now, remember, girls, you are not to come 
home until I send for you,’" she said as the girls 
bade her their last ‘‘good-byes.” 

“Come, Maggie, I want you to tear this room out 
and take all the paper off the walls, and you 
must have it done within an hour,” said her mis- 
tress. 

“Shure! who is to help?” Maggie inquired. 

“Why, no one,” her mistress replied. 

“Well, faith, if you want this room torn out 
and all this foine paper torn off, just for pas- 
time you had better get a couple of good stout 
men in here. "Tis not Maggie Burke that will 
do it,” she said. 

“Make haste, Maggie, and if you find that you 
really can’t do it within an hour, do it in you own 
time, but I am very anxious to have it done to- 
day,” her mistress said. 

“Shure, ma’am, send Jim Smith in to help me 
and your room will be done up to-day,” Maggie 
said. 

“That must be the door bell, and to think I 
have been so busy this morning that I have not 
had time to dress. Go down and answer the bell, 
and if it is anyone inquiring for me please tell 
them to wait, for I never can appear in this dress,” 
she exclaimed. 

When Maggie opened the door she saw a man 
of rather stern features, who inquired for Mrs- 
Brown and wished to know if she was home 


46 


The Ambitions of 


^Taith, she is, sir,^^ Maggie answered. ^^Come 
in, sir, and please wait until my mistress comes 
down. What name shall I say, sir?^^ 

^^Never mind the name, my good girl,” the 
stranger replied in his blunt manner. ^^Your mis- 
tress will know me very well when she comes down 
to meet me.” 

When Maggie went upstairs again her mistress 
inquired : 

‘^Who was it that rang the bell?” 

^^Shure, mistress, he bid me tell you ^that you 
would know him well enough when you met him,^ ” 
Maggie answered. 

‘‘I do wonder who would dare send me such a 
message as that,” Mrs. Brown angrily exclaimed. 

When the proud mistress entered the magnificent 
parlor she found herself face to face with the man 
she hated. 

‘Tr. Smith, your presence is no longer needed,” 
she said with a haughy sneer. 

knew that many hours ago,” the old physician 
replied. 

^^May I ask who it was that took the trouble to 
inform you?” 

^^Well, madam, when I learned that you had 
turned your daughter out of her own home to die 
in a pest hospital, I well knew that my visits here 
were at an end. Why in Heaven’s name could you 
not have let your daughter die in peace in her 
own home, if die she must,” he said. 

should like to know what right you have to 
come here and question my actions. Are you sure 
that my daughter has been taken to the pest hos- 
pital? Perhaps you may have made a mistake, as 


A Worldly Woman. 47 

you make such things in a great many cases,” she 
said angrily. 

“No, madam, I have made no mistake in this 
matter. Although you have thought to cover up 
your night^s work well, you have failed, and this 
town is ringing with your cruelty,” he said. 

‘^What care I for the opinions of the common 
herd,” she exclaimed. 

“Madam, the poorest and meanest woman in 
this town would not be guilty of such an act of 
cruelty as you have been,” the old doctor answered. 

“I did what was right and just,” she said. 

“No, madam, you have done a great injustice 
to your own child, and your actions have caused in- 
justice to be done to another person also,” he 
said. 

“Why are you talking to me in such a manner ?” 
she asked. “I wish you to explain.” 

‘^ell, madam, you will hear it all too soon, al- 
though you are in such haste to have me enlighten 
you upon this unpleasant subject. You will have 
to answer for the death of Frank Carr, madam,” 
he exclaimed. 

“Dr. Smith, I think you have surely taken leave 
of your senses,” she said in surprise. 

“No, madam, I am perfectly sane,” the old 
doctor replied. 

“Then why have you brought the name of that 
crazy creature into this conversation?” 

“You would make a very good actress, but you 
cannot blulf this old man. I am well aware of 
your nighFs work. You made that poor, simple 
creature come here and cart your daughter from 


The Ambitions of 


4S 

this door — something that no one in this town 
would consent to do for you, with all your money. 
You made him cart your daughter from this door 
to die alone in a pest hospital, unless the Lord 
allows her to live and be a warning to you for this 
awful night’s work. Frank Carr has caught the 
smallpox and his life is almost at an end. Poor 
and alone, you chose him to do the cruel work 
which is to be paid for with his life. What a 
soulful of remorse yours must be, woman!” he 
said. 

^^If you think your words can make any impres- 
sion upon me you are mistaken, for I care not one 
iota for them. And as to that crazy creature, he 
would have taken the smallpox anyway,” she said 
with a sneer. 

‘‘Yo, madam, Frank Carr would have been well 
now had you not made a tool of him to accomplish 
your own selfish ends,” he replied. 

^^Have they taken him to the pest hospital ?” she 
asked. 

‘‘No, madam. Although he is but a poor sim- 
ple outcast, he has met with more kindness than 
your poor daughter. He shall not die friendless 
and alone. The same kind-hearted person who 
shared your daughter’s journey to the hospital is 
the one who will close poor, simple Frank Carr’s 
eyes in death. You see, proud woman, that there 
are still some people in this world who have love 
and charity in their hearts for those who are 
friendless and alone, although they are not clad in 
purple and fine linen,” he said. 

“Pray, sir, to whom may it be that I am indebted 


A Worldly Woman. 49 

for such kindness?” she asked in surprise, as she 
haughtily threw back her head. 

^^Madam, it is poor old Kate,” he answered, 
knew it was some poor fool,” the proud, hard- 
hearted woman sneered. 

find that, unlike you, she is a woman with a 
heart in her breast, even if she is poor and of the 
common herd. And now, as you have had to bear 
my hateful presence so long, I shall leave you, 
but I think that you are in duty bound to bury 
poor Frank Carr,” he said. 

^^What do you think I am. Dr. Smith? I will 
have you know that I am no such fool as to do 
anything of the kind, sir.” 

'^Madam, do you not really think that you owe 
him that much, when by your own act that poor, 
simple boy has met his doom,” the doctor said. 

“I do not feel that I owe that wretch anything. 
I have paid him well for ever3rthing he has ever 
done for me,” she said. 

^‘Then, madam, I am to conclude that this 
interview is at an end. And for the sake of a 
few dollars yours shall not be the hand to save 
him from the Spotter’s field.’ ” 

^^That, sir, is what you are to conclude.” 

^^oman, do you ever think that you will be 
called upon to meet a just God?” he asked in 
amazement. 

^^hen, may I inquire, did you become a 
preacher?” she asked banteringly in return. 

^‘1 am afraid that your pride will have a dreadful 
end,” the old physician replied. 

do not think that I should care to have you 


50 


The Ambitions of 


present when snch a dreadful calamity occurs/’ 
she sneeringly said. 

'^Madam, it is more than useless for me to 
talk to you ; but, remember, I hold you as being the 
cause of Frank Carr’s death, and if your daugh- 
ter dies her death is at your hands also,” he ex- 
citedly exclaimed. 

^Thew, what an excellent preacher you would 
make. Dr. Smith, I really think that you have 
made a very great mistake in your calling. You 
certainly should be a preacher instead of a phy- 
sician.” 

'^Madam, I sincerely hope that I shall never 
again meet another woman who is as cruel and 
heartless as you,” he said as he took up his hat and 
left. 


A Worldly Woman. 


51 


CHAPTER XIV. 

^‘James, you have had a cold drive to the post 
office, this morning/^ 

“Yes, Miss Bella,^'’ the servant answered. 

“Whom did you see at Carsteiffis?^^ 

“There was no one there. Miss Bella, but Ruth, 
and 1 gave your note to her. She told me that 
none of the family had come downstairs, but that 
Miss Violet would send you a reply.” 

“Why, James, what time was it when you 
reached there?” Bella asked. 

“It was just nine. Miss Bella,” J ames answered. 

“That is very strange. They never have break- 
fast later than half-past eight.” 

“They had quite a number of guests from New 
York last night, and I suppose that is why they 
are late this morning.” 

“You may go now, James,” she said as she sorted 
out the letters he had just brought in. “Here 
is a letter for you, Mary, dear.” 

“My dear friends, I shall have to request a 
favor of you. I have just had a letter from 
mother, telling me that an epidemic of smallpox 
has broken out in our town.” 


52 


The Ambitions of 


“Mary, you surely are not going home then,” 
Bella exclaimed. “We could not let you think of 
such a thing while that terrible disease is there.” 

“That is just what I wish to speak of. Mother 
would like me to stay here until it is stamped out ; 
that is, if it would not be intruding upon your 
good nature,” Mary replied. 

“Miss Brown, it will afford us great pleasure to 
have you,” Mrs. Brointon answered. 

“Oh, mamma, isn’t that lovely. Now I will 
have Mary here for my birthday party, and how 
surprised Harry will be to hear that you are going 
to stay,” Bella delightedly exclaimed. 

“I suppose your sisters have left town?” 

“Yes, mother tells me that they have gone, but 
that the boys would not hear of such a thing as 
leaving home. Father has gone away to look after 
some business affair and I hardly know how mother 
will manage all alone.” 

“Let us hope, Miss Brown, that it will not be so 
bad as it appears at present,” her kind hostess said, 
bad as it appears at present,” her kind hostess 
said. 


A Worldly Woman. 


53 


CHAPTEE XV. 

When" Mrs. Brown found herself free from the 
presence of the family doctor her thoughts were 
far from pleasant. 

^^You have finished the room, Maggie 

^‘1 have that, mum.” 

^Then you may clean the silver,” said Mrs. 
Brown. 

“Before I begin, ma’am, I would like to know if 
you think that all the work of this house can be 
done by one pair of hands.” 

“Certainly. One good woman could do all the 
work of my house and have time to spare.” 

“Well, if you really do believe any such thing, 
I may as well tell you as send word, mistress, that 
Maggie Burke is not the woman you are wantin’.” 

“Do you mean to tell me that you cannot do the 
work of this house, Maggie?” her mistress asked 
in surprise. 

“Faith, ma’am, phwat I said is the plain truth. 
I would no more undertake to do it than I would 
take a bad husband for life, Mrs. Brown. So I 
may as well go upstairs and pack up my duds and 
be going back.” 

“Maggie, if you think that you really cannot 


54 


The Ambitions of 


do this work alone I will get someone to help you/^ 
Mrs. Brown said. 

‘Taith, mistress^ two good women, and sthrong 
at that, would not be too many to do the work of 
this house.” 

will make inquiry, Maggie, so you can start 
in and clean the silver, and you will have a girl 
to help you as soon as I can find someone suit- 
able,” she said as she dismissed her from her pres- 
ence. 

‘‘How foolish I have been to give in to that 
girhs whim,” she thought after the servant had 
gone. 

“I say, Tom, let us go into the house. Father 
has just returned and he is sure to have brought 
something for us.” 

“All right, Harold.” 

“Well, boys, where have you been?” 

“Out in the stable, father,” Harold answered. 

“How did you enjoy your trip, father?” 

“I found it rather cold,” he answered, “but I 
have not forgotten you boys. Tom, I have brought 
you a fine chestnut hunter.” 

“Hurrah ! That’s what I’ve wanted for a long 
while !” Tom exclaimed in glee. 

“Harold, I have not forgotten you either,” Mr. 
Brown said. 

“Oh, Tom, isn’t it a beauty,” said Harold as his 
father gave him a gold watch. 

“Your watch won’t compare with my hunter.” 

“Oh, you will soon get tired of your hunter, but 
I , shall never tire of this watch.” 

“Where are the girls ? I have some presents for 
them too.” 


A Worldly Woman. 55 

‘‘They have gone to Aunt Kate’s to stay until the 
smallpox is over,” replied Tom. 

“What did you say, Tom?” 

“Why, father, have you heard nothing of this? 
It broke out the week you left home.” 

“Your information is a surprise to me,” his 
father said. 

“Come on, Tom, and I will help you fix up your 
‘skate,’ then we will take a spin on the ice,” said 
Harold. 

J ust then Maggie entered and seeing Mr. Brown, 
said : 

“Well, shure, sir, I suppose you are the master.” 

“Yes, I believe I am.” 

“Thin, faith, I shall bring you in something to 
eat in a minute.” 

“Just a cup of hot coffee, if you please,” he 
answered. 

“I wonder why I find a servant here? Lettie 
would never hear of any stranger doing her work,” 
thought John Brown as Maggie appeared with 
his cup of coffee. 

“Will you kindly tell Mrs. Brown that her hus- 
band has returned?” he requested. 

After waiting about ten minutes his wife came 
into the dining room. 

“Well, John, when did you come?” she asked. 

“I have been home for more than an hour, 
Lettie.” 

“How did you settle the business affair you 
went to see about?” 

“I have settled everything to my liking, Lettie,” 
he answered. 


56 The Ambitions of 

am so glad you did not have all your trouble 
for nothing/^ 

‘‘Lettie, what is this I hear about the small- 
pox ? Are there many cases in the town 

^Twenty cases, all told, and there have been five 
deaths since the disease first appeared,^^ Mrs. 
Brown answered, and turned to leave. 

^^Come, Lettie, take this chair and let me have 
your company until I have finished my lunch. 
I have a great many questions to ask you.^^ 

^^They are not so important that you cannot 
wait until I have more leisure time than I have 
at present,’’ snapped Mrs. Brown. have an en- 
gagement with my dressmaker which I cannot 
neglect.” 

“Lettie, you try my patience. You always find 
time for everyone but those of your own house.” 

“You may just as well keep your temper. 'No 
one minds it less than I,” she answered as she 
sailed out of the room. 

“Wait a minute and answer one question.” 

“What is it? John, you are really tiresome. 
Don’t keep me waiting. You know I do not like 
to be disappointed in any of my engagements,” 
she said and a frown marred the. beauty of her 
brow. 

“Where is Hettie? I have not seen her since 
I returned, and why do I find a strange servant girl 
in our kitchen ? Who is she, Lettie ?” 

“Her name is Maggie Burke and she is a cousin 
of Jim Smith’s.” 

“I suppose she came well recommended, when 
you chose to have her do your work,” her husband 
said. 


57 


A Worldly Woman. 

‘‘1 think she will make a good servant after a 
great deal of showing, but it is hard to undertake 
such a task/^ 

^^Now, wife, I have heard all about your new 
servant, let me hear where Hettie has gone, for I 
know she was greatly in need of a long holiday,” 
he said as he pushed his chair from the table. 

“^John, if you really must know where she is, 
I have had her taken to the pest hospital, for I 
knew it would ruin our business to have her here 
with the smallpox.” 

^^My God ! Lettie, do you mean to tell me that 
Hettie has been stricken with that awful disease ! 
Why have you sent my darling to the pest hos- 
pital? What is all my money to the life of my 
poor Hettie ? Why have you acted in this manner, 
Lettie? Why in Heaven^s name has Dr. Smith 
allowed this thing to be done? He knew well 
that had I been present I would never have given 
my consent. Oh ! Why, in God^s name, Lettie, 
have you stood by and let this thing be done? 
Why, I demand, have you ever let such a thing as 
this be done?” 

suppose it was because I have a little more 
sense than you have, for I think that the pest hos- 
pital is the proper place for all such cases,” an- 
swered the cruel woman. 

^^Lettie, leave my presence before I am tempted 
to strike you,” he commanded angrily. “Poor 
Hettie! To think you have been turned from 
your own father’s door. Oh, God! I believe I 
am going mad,” he cried as he laid his head upon 
his arms and gave vent to his awful sorrow. 

Lettie Brown looked down upon her husband’s 


The Ambitions of 


58 

grief without one pang of remorse. She looked, 
as she stood in her handsome dining room, amid 
the sparkling cut glass and shining silver, more 
like some beautiful marble image than a woman 
with a human heart within her breast. 

Her husband raised his head from the table and 
he looked like one almost bereft of reason. He 
left the room hastily and went to his well-stocked 
stables, where he ordered Jim Smith to make 
ready his fleetest horse. 

^^In God^s name, master, what has come over 
you? Are you ill, sir?^^ 

^^No, Jim, I am not ill, but my heart is broken,^^ 
he answered. 

^^Master, you are too ill to drive Spitfire to-day. 
She has not been driven since you left home and 
you know what that means. Let me give you 
Bess,” pleaded Jim. 

^Tor God’s sake, man, do my bidding. Do not 
keep me waiting. Make haste and let me be off 
on my sad errand,” his master commanded. 

^^All is ready, master, but I shall be worried until 
you return.” 

Jim’s words fell upon deaf ears. His master 
Jumped into his carriage and was off without a 
moment’s delay. 

^^Och, Maggie, what has ever happened to the 
master?” 

^^Shure, Jim, I believe Mr. Brown is going crazy. 
I never did see such a change take place in anyone 
as has been made in the master. Och, Jim, you 
should have seen him, poor man, when that hard- 
hearted woman told him that she had sent her 


A Worldly Woman. 59 

daughter to a pest hospital. I was shure that he 
was going to drop down dead at her feet.” 

^^Why, Maggie, shure and what is this you are 
trying to tell me ? I believe you have taken leave 
of your reason, too. What has ever flown over 
this house? What would the mistress ever send 
her daughter to the hospital for?” 

^^Shure, Jim, poor Miss Hettie was stricken 
down with the smallpox,” Maggie exclaimed. 

^^Och, Maggie, for the love of Heaven, has the 
loike of that befell poor Miss Hettie? How do 
you know this is true ?” 

^^Shure, wasn^t I cleaning up the silver in the 
pantry off the dining room when the master came 
home and I had just got him a bite of lunch, poor 
man, when he bid me let the mistress know that 
he had returned. When I come back to finish my 
work in the pantry — but, faith, Jim, the mis- 
tress never knew I was there — I heard the mistress 
telling the poor man.” 

“Shure, that woman fears neither God nor the 
devil. Of that I am sure after what I have just 
heard. Maggie, do you know that is why the 
mistress set up to work to clean that room ? That 
is why we had to pull off all that beautiful paper. 
Thank God, I am not afeared of getting the small- 
pox. I would have nursed the poor dear myself.” 

“Oh, but I do pity the poor master this day!” 
Maggie exclaimed as she took up the corner of her 
apron to wipe her eyes. 

“Shure, Maggie, I just wish the master were 
safe home. He said he was not ill, but his heart 
was broken.” 

“Och, Jim, this blow is enough to kill him, poor 


6o 


The Ambitions of 


man. I shall just give him a glass of good liquor 
when he gets home, for there is plenty of it in the 
dining room.” 

^^Shure, Maggie, the master never tastes a drop 
of anything, although he has been in the business 
so long,” Jim replied. 

‘^Oh, but, Jim, a glass would do him good after 
all this awful trouble.” 

^Taith, Maggie, I don^t think the master will 
have any, no matter how great his trouble is.” 

“Well, Jim, I can tell you that his son Tom will 
be able to drink his father’s share of it. I wish 
you could see him in the dining room helping him- 
self.” 

“Oh, Maggie, dear, that is nothing new, for 
Master Tom has been a taster for many a day,” he 
said. 

“Shure, he is the foine good-hearted lad, for 
all he loikes the drop,” Maggie said. 

“Here is the master at home once more, Jim,” 
said Maggie. 

“Never bother him. He has trouble enough, 
poor man.” 

“All right, Jim. I only wish I could be of 
help to him, poor man,” Maggie said as Jim left 
the kitchen to take his master’s horse, which was 
covered with foam. 

John Brown had driven his horse with the speed 
of the wind until he reached the pest hospital, only 
to meet with a disappointment. 

“Doctor, may I see a patient who was brought 

here from the town of C ?” 

am sorry I cannot let you in, sir, but it is 


A Worldly Woman. 6i 

strictly forbidden to allow anyone inside the 
wards/’ 

God, isn’t this awful!” he exclaimed. 

^Gs the young lady a relative ?” the doctor asked. 

^^She is my daughter, sir,” he replied in an un- 
steady voice. 

‘^Well, the only thing you can do, sir, is to 
leave money to alleviate her sufferings.” 

^^Do you mean to tell me, sir, that my daughter 
is in the charity ward of this hospital ?” 

^‘1 believe that such is the case,” the doctor an- 
swered. 

^^My God ! Is my misery never to end ? Here, 
sir, take this money and let my daughter want for 
nothing that money can secure for her.” 

^^Very well, Mr. Brown, your orders will receive 
strict attention,” replied the doctor, as Mr. Brown 
turned to leave the hospital for his home, a changed 
man to what he had been a few short hours ago. 

As he walked through the rooms of his mag- 
nificent home, the splendor and glitter seemed to 
rise up and mock him. What had all his wealth 
brought him ? He could picture his daughter roll- 
ing and tossing upon her bed of misery, calling for 
water to quench her burning thirst, and no kind 
voice or loving hand to answer her call. Oh, God, 
how awful was the sorrow that filled his heart. 
Great was the remorse that filled his soul; but 
none pity that sorrow-stricken man in his own 
grand home, for he had found his cold, proud wife 
to be without love or charity in her heart to those 
she owed a mother’s love. 

The days passed by and each found the breach 
made wider between husband and wife. He found 


62 


The Ambitions of 


no pleasure but in the care of his business. His 
soul was given up to the one thought, that of 
making money. He found nothing to live for 
after he had found how cruel and heartless his 
wife had been to their own daughter in her hour 
of need. Everything he touched appeared to turn 
to gold, but withal it brought no happiness to his 
unhappy home. Happier far was the poorest man 

within the town of C than he with all his 

wealth and show. It mattered not where he 
chanced to go his daughter’s voice seemed to haunt 
him. Only to have her in his home again and 
to hear her sweet voice and see her gliding through 
the rooms, as was her habit, and to hear her sing- 
ing as she went about her work, how happy he 
would be ! Such were his thoughts during 
Hettie’s stay in the pest hospital, which seemed 
years to the heart-broken father who loved her so 
dearly. ‘^Will the time never come again when I 
can clasp my darling to my heart ?” he would cry. 


A Worldly Woman. 


63 


CHAPTEE XVI. 

One day late in August a stranger alighted from 
a railroad coach at the station of C . 

Many were the remarks passed concerning the 

stranger’s appearance, for the station of C 

was a country place, where there are always a num- 
ber of idle persons to be found, and they never 
fail to make remarks concerning each newcomer. 

Some wondered who the stranger could be, while 
there were others who wondered where he was 
bound for. 

Jim Smith happened to be waiting at the station 
to take some visitors to his master’s home when 
some of the idlers stepped up to the carriage and 
asked Jim what he thought of the stranger who 
had given them a surprise in alighting at the town 
of C 

“Well, shure, boys, I will have to get a look 
at the stranger before I can pass any opinion 
upon him,” Jim said, much to the surprise of all. 

The stranger turned around and looked at 
Jim Smith, who took otf his hat and made a most 
respectful bow. 

“Oh, don’t you know a gintleman when you 
see one, boys ?” he asked in delight. 


64 


The Ambitions of 


^^Well, Jim, you appear to know him by the way 
you took off that hat. Why, you never made such 
a bow to your proud, haughty mistress, Jim,” 
they said. 'Tome, let us know who he is.” 

"He is a priest, and a fine looking one at that. 
Did you ever see such a fine pair of shoulders, 
hoys, and such a handsome face?” Jim asked, as 
the crowd of men looked upon the stranger, who 
stood upon the platform as though he were wait- 
ing for someone to meet him. 

But if such were the case he looked in vain, 
for no one advanced to bid him a welcome. He 
looked around and took in the rustic beauty of 
the hills. When he turned his head to the north 
his eyes rested upon the gilded cross of the tall 
church spire of St. Mary’s, towering high above 
the lofty forest trees ; he also noted the tall marble 
shafts denoting the churchyard, where many loved 
ones had been laid to rest. 

He wiped his noble brow and taking up his 
baggage wended his way down the dusty country 
road where he came upon some children playing 
and stopped to talk to them. They were busy 
sailing pieces of wood down the clear running 
stream that found its way through the town 

of C . They watched the wood sail down the 

stream until it was lost from their view under the 
heavy stone arches of the bridge which spanned the 
creek. The handsome stranger heaved a sigh and 
the children looked at him in surprise. 

"How happy, children, would it be if you could 
spend your lives always in your childish glee, 
but far too soon your young lives shall know the 
troubles of this sinful world and all your happy 


A Worldly Woman. 65 

childhood pass away as these very sticks of wood 
are doing in floating down the stream,” the stran- 
ger said. 

The children laughed at the stranger^s words, 
hut well he knew that they did not understand 
him. 

He had been so interested in their happy time 
that he was surprised when he heard the angelus 
bell strike the hour of six. He bade them good 
night and hastened on his way. As he reached 
the summit of the hill the sun was sinking in 
all its crimson glory. When he at last reached 
the rectory door he rang the bell, which was an- 
swered by a neat servant girl. He asked to see 
the Reverend Father Malone. The servant bid the 
stranger enter and she led him into a long room, 
facing the west, and which commanded a splendid 
view of the surrounding country. 

He was so lost in admiration of the magnificent 
scenery that he failed to hear the door open, and 
gazed out of the window until he heard his name 
uttered by a deep, well modulated voice. He 
turned to greet the Reverend Father Malone and 
saw before him a man who was about five and fifty, 
with a form as straight as a sapling and a pair of 
gray eyes that lighted up his pale features, while 
his snow-white hair was brushed high off his noble 
brow. 

The Reverend Father Malone greeted the young 
clergyman very warmly and told him that he 
hoped he would find his labors as an assistant 
congenial to him, then rang the bell and told the 
servant to show the Reverend James Loftion to 
his room, saying : 


66 


The Ambitions of 


know yon will enjoy a refreshing bath after 
your long dusty walk from the station.” 

Later in the evening he went in search of Father 
Malone, to be instructed in his new duties as curate 
of St. Mary’s Church. After he had received his 
instructions he started out to explore the church- 
yard and its surroundings. The church and rec- 
tory of St. Mary’s was built upon a high hill 
and shaded by many lofty forest trees. It com- 
manded an excellent view of the country for many 
miles. Father Loftion went from grave to grave 
reading upon the tomb stones the names of the 
faithful, long gone to give an account of their 
stewardship. 

The young priest wondered as he walked through 
the churchyard if it would be a large gathering 
of people that would be present on the morrow to 
hear the sermoai he had prepared. 

At last the sun of the Sabbath day rose high 
in the heavens, but the zealous young priest met 
with a surprise, for he found many empty pews 
in St. Mary’s church that beautiful Sabbath day. 
He wondered if there were any who would choose 
a more beautiful place in which to give thanks to 
their Creator than this grand old church. 

Father Loftion greatly disliked to have people 
coming in and going out of the church during 
mass, and he found it a source of annoyance the 
first Sunday he spent at St. Mary’s. He re- 
quested the congregation to come to the services 
early and not be coming in after mass had com- 
menced. He thought that was one of the grossest 
insults that anyone could offer to the Lord of 
Hosts, always present, after which he preached 


A Worldly Woman. 67 

one of the grandest sermons ever heard in St. 
Mary’s, for God had endowed Father Loftion with 
an eloquence rarely met with. As his text he took : 

^^The Lord saith, I think thoughts of peace 
and not of affliction. You shall call upon me and 
I shall hear you ; and I will bring you back from 
your captivity from all places.” — Lu. xxix. 11, 
12, 14. 

^^Lord, thou hast blessed the land. Thou has 
turned away the captivity of Jacob.” — Ps. xxxiv. 

Father Loftion’s sermon brought tears to the 
eyes of his hearers. He held them spellbound 
by his eloquence. Many hearts were moved that 
Sabbath that had been cold and indifferent for 
years. 

^^Well, Father Loftion, what have you to say 
in regard to the members of your new charge?” 
the Keverend Father Malone inquired as they sat 
down to dinner. 

^Tather, I was greatly surprised to find so few 
people present at the masses this morning. Why 
have we had so few present on this beautiful 
morning? Is there any other place of worship 
that they can attend?” the young clergyman 
asked. 

“Ho, no other place within twelve miles of St. 
Mary’s. It gives me great pain to have to con- 
fess that it is due to the coldness and indifference 
of our congregation that you find so few people 
present, and as my health has been failing fast 
of late I have not the rallying force to bring 
together those who should set a brighter example 
to their fellow creatures. I hope God has sent 
me one who will help me bring back these erring 


68 


The Ambitions of 


ones to the path that their footsteps have not 
trodden for so long, but you shall soon know all 
our flock. I will have the sexton go around with 
you during the coming week, so that you may 
know them.^^ 

“Thank you. Father Malone, I shall be glad 
to make myself known among our congregation,^^ 
the young clergyman replied as they arose from 
the table. 

He went to his room and returned with his book 
in his hand. When he left the house to say his 
offlce he went into the churchyard and came upon 
a path that led him into a beautiful meadow, 
divided by a creek and bordered on both sides 
by beautiful willow trees. He looked around 
and found a beautiful seat, formed by nature’s 
own handiwork from the trunk of a wild grape 
vine. Father Loftion sprang, into the seat and 
was soon lost in his devotions, but, happening 
to raise his eyes, he was greatly surprised to see 
before him in the meadow a group of men, some 
old and some young. They seemed to be having 
a very interesting game of cards. The young 
clergyman put his hands to his eyes to make sure 
that he had made no mistake when he had seen 
the money changed hands and the liquor passed 
around. 

With the bound of a deer the young priest 
found himself in the presence of the gamesters, 
much to their chagrin. He exclaimed angrily: 

“Are you men or are you devils to desecrate 
the Sabbath in this awful manner? Shame upon 
your manhood. Hand me that bottle,” and upon 
receiving it he dashed it upon ^ rock. “That 


A Worldly Woman. 69 

is where your immortal souls will go if you per- 
sist in your sinfulness/^ he said. 

So great was their surprise that they could 
find no voice to answer him. 

^‘Come one and all of you and let me have 
your names,” he demanded, as he drew his note- 
book from his pocket, when from among the 
group of men stepped one whose once manly fea- 
tures were besotted by the curse of run. After 
taking his name. Father Loftion said: 

‘Thilip Burns, what an example you should 
be to all who look upon your shattered frame. 
Take heed, Philip Burns, before it is too late 
to mend your illspent life. Kemember that the 
wages of sin is death.” 

Calling a beardless youth to his side he de- 
manded his name. 

^Tom Brown, sir.” 

^^How old are you?” 

‘^Twenty-two,” Tom replied. 

“Have you no parents?” Father Loftion asked. 

“Yes !” replied Tom. 

“Then why in Heaven’s name have you been 
allowed to sink so far in sin ? Young man, is there 
no restraining hand to hold you in check ? And a 
Catholic! What a disgrace to the dear faith 
you profess.” 

After taking the names of all of the group. 
Father Loftion dismissed them but not until he 
had extracted from each one a promise that they 
would meet him in the church on Monday evening. 

They left the young priest’s presence with 
downcast looks, and after they had all gone from 
the meadow he fell upon his knees and begged of 


70 


The Ambitions of 


God to be merciful to those who had trampled 
His image and likeness in the dust, and leaving 
the beautiful meadow the young priest turned his 
steps toward the rectory with a sad and heavy 
heart. 

“Well, boys, did you ever see such courage as 
that young priest displayed ? I believe he 
would fear nothing if he was sure he was in the 
right,” Tom Brown exclaimed. 

“I suppose we will have to show up to-morrow 
night. I know that I, for one, would not like to 
go back on a promise,” Philip Burns said. 

“I hope this thing will not get spread around 
the town, for it would surely cause us to be 
laughed at,” Tom said. “We will meet at the 
bridge to-morrow night, fellows, and then we’ll 
find out what is in store for us; but of course 
you fellows who do not belong to our faith will 
never keep the promise you made to Father 
Loftion.” 

“Why !” they answered, “we would not think of 
breaking our word. We are sure to hear some- 
thing that we don’t hear every day.” 

“You can all please yourselves, but I wish I 
had half your chance to back out,” Tom exclaimed. 

“Surely, Tom, you are not going to show the 
white feather?” his companions asked. 

“No,” he replied, “for I am sure to have plenty 
of company if you all show up.” 

They bade each other “good-l^e,” and then 
went their different ways. 

Monday evening arrived and Father Loftion 
stood waiting in the dim vestibule of the church 
to meet the group of men he had so suddenly sur- 


A Worldly Woman. 71 

prised in the meadow. He soon heard their foot- 
steps as they came up the path, and after they had 
all responded to their names he led them into the 
grand old church, which many in that group of 
men had not entered for years. Then he ascended 
the steps of the altar and gave voice to one of the 
grandest temperance sermons that ever fell from 
the lips of a gifted orator. After he finished the 
sermon he stepped down from the altar and in- 
vited his hearers to come forward and sign the 
temperance pledge, which they all did, and that 
night the corner stone was laid for one of the 
greatest temperance societies to be found within 
miles of St. Mary’s. 

Many were the voices raised to God to bless 
the young priest’s good and noble work. Many 
were the desolate homes and broken hearts that 
were made happy by Father Loftion’s temperance 
society and its pledge. 

The young clergyman, embracing the oppor- 
tunity thus offered of making himself known to 
the members of his flock, soon found himself in 
the home of Tom Brown, where he asked to see 
the parents of the young man he had already 
met. 

Maggie Burke hastened to tell her proud mis- 
tress that the new clergyman was waiting in the 
drawing room to see her. 

^^Did you tell him I was at home, Maggie?” 
her mistress asked. 

^Taith. I did. What else would you have me 
tell him?” 

“How stupid of you. It is impossible for me to 
see him. I have an engagement at three to go 


72 


The Ambitions of 


for a drive. You must go down and tell him I 
am not at home/’ her mistress said. 

‘Taith, I’ll not do anything of the kind. I 
did not hire with you to tell your lies/’ Maggie 
replied. 

really have a mind to dismiss you from my 
service. I never had such a servant. Go at once 
and leave me.” 

Maggie returned to the drawing room and told 
the young' clergyman that her mistress had refused, 
to see him, when he asked: 

^Gs there any of the family at home?” 

^^Yo, father, they are all away to-day. I wish 
poor Miss Hettie were here, for I know she will 
be greatly vexed when she hears that you have 
called and found her away from home.” 

^^Well never mind, I shall call again soon and 
then, perhaps, I shall find some one at home,” say- 
ing which he took up his hat and gloves and left 
the splendid home of Lettie Brown to visit many 
humbler ones, but where he received more respect 
than he had found in the home of the proud Mrs. 
Brovui. 

When he reached the home of Philip Burns he 
was greeted in a fitting manner. Philip Burns’ 
wife and daughter shed tears of joy in his presence 
and thanked him again and again for the great 
good his act had secured for them, by saving a 
hiisband and father from a living death. 


A Worldly Woman. 


73 


CHAPTER XVIL 

The weeks passed slowly and at last Hettie 
Brown was free to leave the pest hospital for her 
own home. Hettie’s heart was filled with joy when 
she thought of the welcome she would receive after 
her recovery from her long illness and her return 
home. She longed to feel her mother’s kiss and 
hear her words of welcome, for she loved her 
mother dearly, even though she had never known 
one kind or loving word to fall from that woman’s 
lips. Hettie thought that when her proud par- 
ent should look upon her poor scarred features and 
see all her magnificent hair shorn from her head 
surely her mother’s heart would be moved with 
pity, if not love, and she impatiently awaited her 
father’s coming. The nurse at last came and 
told her that her father was waiting to take her 
home. 

Hettie left the room with a fast beating heart. 
When she reached her father’s side she threw her 
arms around his neck and wept tears of bitter sor- 
row, to see such a change in him. Little she 
knew how much he had suffered. 


74 


The Ambitions of 


^Tather, have you been ill 

Hettie, dear, not ill, but do not weep so. 
You cannot know how glad I am to take you home 
with me to-day. You should be happy, darling, 
not sad. Come, dry those tears and let me see 
you smile after all you have sulfered.^^ 

“Father, it is through your own generosity that 
I am able to leave this place.^^ 

“Hettie, dear, my hand was not the one that sent 
you here. Oh, God! If I could only forget it 
all.^^ 

“Father, think not of all the trouble I have 
caused you. I know it will be hard for you to 
look upon my altered face and forget what it 
once was.” 

“Hettie, dear, your poor scarred face will make 
me love you more than ever, for I know you have 
suffered more than you can ever tell. To think 
you should receive such cruel treatment from those 
who should love and protect you.” 

“Father, dear, do not speak of it, for mother has 
ways that no one can change.” 

“My dear child, I only wish it were in my power 
to forget it all, but that is impossible.” 

“You must not think of the past. You must 
try to forget it all. It gives me great pain to know 
that you are cast down by such thoughts,” Hettie 
said. 

John Brown’s carriage drove up to his door, 
where he and Hettie alighted, and Hettie again 
entered the home from which she had been so 
cruelly driven by her proud mother’s hand. She 
at once went into the magnificent dining room, in 
hope that she would receive the welcome she had 


A Worldly Woman. 75 

been longing for so many weeks, but her hopes were 
in vain, for her mother was not present at the sup- 
per table. But if Hettie was sad and disappointed 
when she discovered her mother^s chair vacant, 
she was fully repaid by the welcome she received 
from the family present. Tom gave a shout of 
joy and all came forward to give her a joyful wel- 
come. 

^^Run, Tom, and bring Maggie Burke in!” 
Nellie exclaimed, ‘^so that she may welcome Hettie 
home.” 

Tom started to leave the room just as Maggie 
entered. 

was just going to the kitchen for you,” said 

Tom. 

^‘Well, Master Tom, what do you be after want- 
ing now?” Maggie inquired. 

‘^We want you to welcome Hettie home.” 

^^Och, shure it will be meself that will enjoy the 
pleasure of doing the loike,” Maggie answered. 

^^Come, Hettie, out of that corner and let Maggie 
bid you welcome.” 

Hettie advanced to the center of the room to 
meet her mother^s new servant, and the honest heart 
of Maggie Burke went out to the poor girl. She 
threw her stout arms around Hettie and bade her 
a true and loving welcome back to her own fine 
home. 

^^Where is mother?” she at last found voice to 
ask of Tom. 

^^She has gone to the city with Mrs. Penrose, 
and they are not coming home until late this even- 
ing. It is some swell gathering of mothers set,” 
Tom replied. 


76 The Ambitions of 

^^Come, Miss Hettie, let me help you off with 
your wraps/^ 

^‘Never mind, Maggie, dear, I can do very well 
myself,” she answered as she left the dining room. 

When she found herself alone in her own room 
her heart was heavy with sorrow. To think she 
should find her lady mother from home on her 
return. 

am sure to see mother at the breakfast table 
and I know she will then welcome me home,” 
thought Hettie. 

^‘May I enter?” 

^^Yes, Agnes, I am waiting for you,” Hettie re- 
plied. 

^^How glad I am to have you home with us again. 
We have felt your absence very much. How do 
you like Maggie ?” 

^^Maggie Burke has a good true heart, I think, 
but I suppose you have a great deal to tell me of 
this new servant.” 

^‘Why, Hettie, we have two girls now. Maggie 
gave mamma to understand that she would not 
stay unless there was another woman brought in to 
help her do the work. You should just hear how 
Maggie talks to mamma. She is not one least bit 
afraid and mamma takes it all. We cannot un- 
derstand how Maggie managed to keep her posi- 
tion so long.” 

^‘Maggie must be a very good servant when moth- 
er allows her to be so impertinent,” Hettie an- 
swered. 

^^She is an excellant servant, Hettie, but mamma 
has to stay out of the kitchen, for Maggie will not 
have her come into it. You will be surprised 


A Worldly Woman. 77 

when you see all the changes that have taken place 
during your absence.” 

When Hettie entered the long, handsome din- 
ing room she found her mother was not yet down- 
stairs. Five minutes passed before her mother 
made her appearance. She was clad in a beauti- 
ful gown of rich red merino, trimmed with great 
billows of black lace. Crossing the room she took 
her chair at the table, but did not deign to notice 
Hettie^s presence. 

‘^Did you have a nice time at the luncheon yes- 
terday?” Agnes inquired. 

‘^Yes, a very pleasant one,” her mother replied. 

They finished the meal in silence, and, mastering 
the lump which had risen in her throat, Hettie ven- 
tured to inquire in a low, sad voice after her moth- 
er’s health, but she received no reply. 

Leaving the woman’s presence with her loving 
heart bleeding from the rebuke she had received, 
she checked her tears until she reached the soli- 
tude of her own room, where she locked the door 
and sank upon her pillow to cry until she thought 
her aching heart must burst. 

Hark! Was that a knock at her door? How 
could she allow anyone to see her grief. Ho, she 
could not open her door, such were her thoughts. 
Hearing a voice pleading with her to open the 
door, she relented, and drying her tear-stained face 
went to the door, to find herself face to face with 
the noble-hearted Maggie Burke. 

^Taith, I knew I would find you, poor child, up 
here crying your pretty eyes out. Come, Miss 
Hettie, let me share your sorrow, for shure it is 
Maggie Burke who knows your secret.” 


The Ambitions of 


78 

Hettie found the time pass slowly after she re- 
turned from the hospital. It was a most trying 
time to her poor heart, for though her proud moth- 
er grew more cold and haughty day by day, yet 
Hettie found it hard to conceal the love she still 
had for her. 

John Brown knew how devoid his wife was of 
mother love and he tried in a great measure to 
make up for her shortcomings to his daughter, 
but his time meant money, and consequently Het- 
tie was very little in her kind father^s company, 
although the love he bestowed upon her when they 
were together helped to fill the deep gulf in her 
lonely heart. • 

One day, after she had been home from the hos- 
pital for a number of weeks, Tom came into the 
sitting room where Hettie was sewing. 

^^Well, sis, have you heard the news this morn- 
ing?” 

‘Ts it pleasant or sad?” 

suppose you will say it is very sad news.” 

‘^Do not keep me in suspense, then. Let me 
know what it is.” 

^^Well, Frank Burns’ mother has been stricken 
with the smallpox.” 

^^Oh, Tom, I thought that dreadful disease had 
been stamped out of the town.” 

just heard the men speak of it in the bar- 
room,” Tom replied. 

Going to her room, Hettie made up a small 
bundle of clothing that she would be likely to need 
and, putting on her wraps, went down into the 
kitchen in search of Maggie Burke, who had been 
her true friend in her darkest hour of need. 


A Worldly Woman. 79 

^^Shure, Miss Hettie, are you going out to get 
your death of cold in such weather as this is to- 
day Maggie exclaimed. 

‘‘Yes, Maggie, I am going away from home for 
a short time. I find my presence here is of no use, 
so please tell father that I have gone upon a 
little trip.” 

“Shure, Miss Hettie, it will be meself that will 
miss you in this house. I hope you will not stay 
long, for nothing will go right while you are 
away.” 

“Maggie, I will miss you, too, but I hope it will 
not be long until I return again.” 

“Och, Miss Hettie, you would make me believe 
I had done something great for you, the way you 
speak of me.” 

“Maggie, you will never understand what a great 
kindness you have done by giving me your friend- 
ship,” Hettie replied as she kissed Maggie good- 
bye and hastened on her way to do an act of 
mercy. 

It was a very wet, miserable day. The sky was 
overcast with heavy clouds as Hettie hurried on 

her way through the town of C . After an 

hour’s walk she found herself at Philip Burns’ 
door. Her heart was beating rapidly as she gave 
a timid knock upon the door, but when the kind 
hand of Dr. Smith opened the door, she found no 
trouble in walking into Philip Bums’ home, where 
her presence had never been known before. The 
old doctor gave her a warm welcome. It was the 
first time he had seen her since her recovery. 

“I have heard that Mrs. Burns is ill and I have 
come to nurse her.” 


8o 


The Ambitions of 


dear child, do you not think that such a 
step will cause your proud lady mother to be very 
angry with you — leaving your own grand home to 
come here to nurse this poor, sick woman. Think 
well of the step you have taken, dear child, for 
you know your mother is a very unforgiving 
woman.^’ 

^^Dr. Smith, you need have no fear on my ac- 
count, as I find my presence a source of discomfort 
to my mother since my illness, and I do hope that 
you are not going to send me home again when I 
could find so much happiness in nursing this 
woman who needs me,” Hettie said, with a tear 
upon her silken lashes. 

^^God bless you, Hettie Brown, for a noble 
woman. You almost make me forget that you 
are the daughter of that vain, haughty lady,” 
he said as he instructed her in her new duties. 
‘^God help that poor child. She is almost heart- 
broken over her poor mother’s illness. You must 
try to cheer her up, Hettie, and if Philip Burns 
should happen to come home intoxicated you must 
not get frightened, for he is not quarrelsome, but 
I think it best for you to be prepared. This will 
be a heavy blow to Philip and he is likely to fly 
to rum to forget his troubles. Annie Burns has 
been a faithful wife to him, and it will be no sur- 
prise if Philip breaks his pledge. They have 
known the sting of the curse of rum. How, Het- 
tie, I must hasten on my way, as I have a number 
of calls to make this evening but I will be here 
in the morning,” he said. 

After the kind old doctor had gone, Hettie found 
herself alone in the neat and cheerful sitting 


A Worldly Woman. 8i 

room. When Katie came downstairs she looked 
in surprise to see Hettie Brown in her humble 
home. 

‘‘Good afternoon. Miss Brown. What do you 
wish?^^ she inquired. 

“I have come here, Miss Bums, to help you nurse 
your sick mother.^’ 

“I am sorry, but I could not think of letting 
you do so.^^ 

“Do you mean to refuse me this first and only 
favor I have ever requested of you T’ 

“Had it been anything else but what you have 
requested of me. Miss Brown, I would gladly grant 
your request, Wt you know you are an entire 
stranger to us.” 

“Then I am to infer that you do not care for 
my friendship. Miss Bums, having refused to grant 
my request.” 

“If I could see how such an act could benefit 
you. Miss Brown, I would surely grant your re- 
quest, but I cannot see how it would help you 
in any way.” 

“Oh, Miss Burns, you cannot know what hap- 
piness it would give me.” 

“If you really wish it, you may stay and share 
our humble lot,” Katie answered. 

“Thank you ever so much. You have made 
my heart leap with joy by granting me this fa- 
vor,” Hettie exclaimed. 

Katie relieved Hettie of her wraps and inquired 
if she had had supper. 

“Ko, my dear friend; I would like a cup of tea, 
if you please.” 

Katie laid the spotless cloth and soon had theii; 


82 


The Ambitions of 


simple meal upon the table. They both sat down 
and then and there sealed a friendship which was 
never to be broken but by the hand of death. 

Katie waited for her father to return from work, 
but she dreaded the effect the news of her mother^s 
illness must have upon him, although he had just 
signed the temperance pledge. 

She had not waited long before she heard her 
father^s steps. Hettie told him of his wife’s ill- 
ness and it was indeed a terrible shock to him. 
He walked the floor in the anguish of despair 
and then reaching for his coat and hat left the 
room, saying he must go out. 

Katie felt her heart sink within her. She 
pleaded in vain with him to stay at home, for she 
knew full well how he would return. 

Philip Burns found it impossible to listen to 
his daughter’s pleading, and left his stricken home 
to seek the bar of John Brown’s hotel and drown 
his trouble in rum. 

Katie waited in vain for her father to return 
and her heart was heavy. She would have given 
anything she possessed to shield her poor mis- 
guided father’s weakness from the eyes of Hettie 
Brown, but this she found impossible, for Hettie 
shared her vigil. 

The hour of midnight rang out from the town 
clock, yet Philip Burns had not returned. Katie 
was on the verge of despair when she at last heard 
her father groping for the door. She sprang from 
the couch to open the door for him. 

‘^Oh, father ! Thank God you have returned !” 
but her father was too intoxicated to command 
speech to answer. 


A Worldly Woman. 83 

Katie led his tottering form to the couch and 
placed a pillow for his weary heard. She hovered 
about him like some ministering angel, all love and 
pity for her unfortunate father. 

When Philip Burns entered the room Hettie 
recoiled in horror to think that one of God’s crea- 
tures, having an immortal soul, should ever be- 
come more degraded than a beast by rum. She 
had never before realized the awful nature of her 
father’s business until she beheld the once manly 
form of Philip Bums now slovenly and broken 
down. 

When she saw the sad effects of rum in Philip 
Burns’ home she thought of her own parents’ 
wealth, the splendid home she had just left, and 
shrank back as she thought that all had been gained 
by the downfall of their fellow creatures. Cross- 
ing the room she threw her arms around Katie’s 
neck and shed bitter tears of sorrow. 

^^What is the matter?” Katie asked in alarm, 
am so sorry to see, that through my parents’ 
business such misery and woe must be shared by 
many, as I have been forced to see you suffer this 
night.” 

^^Kever mind, dear girl, do not grieve so. I 
suppose my father’s failing causes you to shrink 
with horror, but as it is our cross we have to bear 
it until God in His mercy sees fit to lift it from 
our shoulders.” 

^^Oh, how much faith you have, Katie, to speak 
so hopefully of your greatest trial,” Hettie ex- 
claimed. 

^^My dear friend, do we not belong to the one 
fold and the one flock? Have you not also the 


84 The Ambitions of 

same faith in God’s great mercy Katie asked in 
surprise. 

‘‘Would to God I had/’ Hettie replied. 

Katie was shocked to hear her answer. She 
thought it impossible that a Catholic could be 
guilty of such want of faith. 

Hettie was quick to notice Katie’s start of sur- 
prise. 

“I hope, dear friend,” she said, “you will not 
judge me too harshly for my want of faith, but 
is it not said that ‘as the twig is bent, so it will 
grow’? That is why you find my heart so cold 
and indifferent to the grand religion that I pro- 
fess,” Hettie said. 

“Please do not be offended with me, but your 
words surprised me greatly. As to my thoughts of 
your want of faith, I must confess that I am truly 
sorry to think of the happiness you have missed.” 

“Well, dear Katie, I am happy now, for I have 
this night found in your humble home that which 
I have never known in my own grand home. I 
have found explicit trust and faith in my God and 
the great benefits of my religion,” Hettie answered. 

“Oh, how glad I am,” Katie replied. 

The weeks passed by and Hettie found her stay 
in the home of the Burns’, where she had found 
so much happiness, drawing to a close. Mrs. 
Burns was now able to come downstairs, and, 
thanks to Hettie’s loving care, had escaped with- 
out a scar. 

Hettie prepared her things in order to return 
home and bade “good-bye” to the family of Philip 
Burns with regret. 

“I have been so very happy here, I cannot tell 


A Worldly Woman. 85 

you how sorry I am to have to leave your happy 
home, where I have found such peace and love/^ 
she said in tears. 

‘^Hettie, dear, I hope you will always count us 
as your friends, and I trust that if you ever are 
in need of anything that is in my own or my 
family^s power to bestow you will never pass my 
door,” Mrs. Burns said. 

Hettie left the house of Philip Burns to return 
to her own grand home where all was but glitter 
and empty show. Her heart was filled with sor- 
row, for she could picture her proud mother’s face 
as she walked on through the town. 

^^Will mother never relent in her coldness to 
me?” she asked herself, and wondered what kind 
of a meeting she would have when she reached 
home, though she knew that she would not find 
such peace and love as she had left in the humble 
home of Philip Burns. When at length she 
reached her father’s door she found everything in 
a state of bustle and confusion. 

Maggie Burke met her in the hall and gave her 
a warm welcome. 

^Taith, Miss Hettie, you have just returned in 
toime,” she said. 

^^Why, Maggie, what does all this mean? I 
noticed the busy air of the house the minute I en- 
tered the door.” 

^^Shure you never saw such a busy time as we 
have had here. Miss Hettie, since Tuesday. The 
mistress received a letter telling her that Miss 
Mary is to return this evening, and is to bring some 
fri’nds with her, so she has invited a number of 


86 


The Ambitions of 


her foine fri’nds to meet them and we are to have 
a big toime, share.” 

‘‘I shall go to my room then, and you need not 
say that I have come home again. I am very tired 
and do not care to meet strangers to-night.” 

shall do as you bid me, Miss Hettie, for well 
I know your presence would be a great displeasure 
to my proud mistress in her foine company to- 
night,” Maggie angrily replied. 

^^Maggie, dear, you must not speak so of my 
mother. You know I have spoken to you before of 
your conduct, and I am sorry that you have made 
it necessary for me to remind you of it.” 

^^Shure, Miss Hettie, I am very sorry, but it is 
hard for one to hold their tongue when they see 
such miserable conduct,” Maggie said. 

^^You must try to do as I have requested you, 
Maggie, if you do not wish to make me feel very 
unhappy.” 

^Taith, Miss Hettie, you know I would be the 
last one in the world to want to make you unhappy, 
but you know I am not as good as you are,” Maggie 
answered. 

‘Y know you do not wish to cause me pain, but 
you are so hasty and speak so quick. By the way, 
Maggie, if you should find my help of any use to 
you please let me know, and I will come down to 
help you.” 

^^Shure, Miss Hettie,” Maggie exclaimed, ^^not 
one step will you come down when there are serv- 
ants paid to do the work. The mistress has hired 
two more servants to help us to-night, so there will 
be no need of you.” 

^^Very well, I shall not detain you, for I know 


A Worldly Woman. 87 

you must have a thousand and one things to see 
to when there are to be so many guests,” Hettie 
said as she left Maggie Burke standing in the hall. 

Going to her room Hettie settled herself down 
in her easy-chair to enjoy a quiet evening^s read- 
ing. She wondered what Mary would think when 
she looked upon her altered face. She knew that 
Mary loved her, although she appeared cold and 
haughty to strangers. 

Hettie had not read many pages before she heard 
the guests arrive, and soon sounds of laughter and 
music reached her from her mother^s parlors be- 
low. All was pleasure and mirth among Mrs. 
Brownes guests, yet Hettie’s thoughts were not 
with them, but with the friends she had left at 
Philip Burns^ happy fireside. 

The clock on Hettie’s mantel had just struck 
ten when she heard the knob of her door turn and, 
raising her eyes from her book to see who was about 
to enter her room, her gaze fell upon her sister 
Mary in all the radiance of a magnificent evening 
dress. 

When Mary Brown looked upon her sister’s sadly 
marred face she uttered a scream and fell lifeless 
at Hettie’s feet. Hettie worked with her for some 
time, and when she at last found that she had re- 
covered from her faint left the room in haste to 
get some wine, for she knew that Mary must be in 
need of some stimulant after the shock she had 
just received. 

Mary looked up when Hettie returned to the 
room and asked in a pitiful voice: 

“Why have you allowed me to remain away so 
long without telling me of your illness?, Oh, 


88 


The Ambitions of 


what a shock it was when I entered this room and 
saw your face so marred/^ 

^‘My dear sister, I was sure that mother had 
written you of my illness. Had I known that 
such was not the case I would have told you by 
my own pen. I deeply regret that I have been 
the cause of your being so greatly shocked to- 
night,” Hettie replied. 

‘^Oh, Hettie, it is terrible to think that you have 
been stricken with that dreadful disease and I have 
known nothing of it. How could mother be so 
cruel as not to tell me ? To think I have been en- 
joying myself so much and you have been almost 
dying with that dreaded smallpox.” 

^^Mary, dear, I would like to have you stay and 
talk to me had you the time, but you have been 
absent from the parlor quite a while, and mother 
will be angry if you do not return soon. When 
all the company have gone, if you come here, then 
I will tell you all about it.” 

^^Oh, how under Heaven can I go back to those 
people after all I have suffered this night. Yet I 
must, just to please my proud mother’s whims. 
And I must appear with a smiling face when my 
heart is as heavy as lead. Oh, Hettie, how I do 
hate to return to those gay people,” and she stooped 
and kissed Hettie’s poor scarred face. 

“I have never seen a better hostess than your 
mother,” Bella said as Mary returned to her 
mother’s friends. have noticed that she has a 
grand way of doing anything, no matter how tri- 
fling it may be.” 

^‘1 am very sorry mother is not near enough to 


A Worldly Woman. 89 

hear your opinion of her, for I know she would be 
greatly flattered.^^ 

Mrs. Brown’s gnests entered the magnificent 
dining room, where they found a sumptuous repast 
awaiting them. The room was exquisitely deco- 
rated with tree ferns arud palms, while the table 
with its heavy silver and sparkling cut glass was 
banked with maidenhair fern and American beauty 
roses. Toasts were drunk in sparkling wines and 
liquors, and the room resounded with laughter 
and gay repartee. Mrs. Brown was in her 
glory, for had she not gained her way into the 
smart circle she had craved so long to enter ! 

Mary Brown was not so elated. She thought 
the evening would never end. All her thoughts 
were with her sister Hettie. Many were the ques- 
tions addressed to her that she never heard. It 
was three o’clock before the last carriage had 
driven away. 

Mary went up to Bella’s room, but she hoped 
her guest would not keep her long, and she was 
not disappointed, for Bella told her she was tired 
and needed rest. Mary bade Bella ^^good morn- 
ing” and left the room, not to seek repose but to 
go to Hettie’s room, where she found her sister 
waiting for her. 

^^Oh, Hettie,” she said, ^fis it not too bad to have 
had you lose all this rest on my account. I thought 
those people would never leave. What a time I 
did have to get all these long weary hours passed, 
and I was so afraid I would come here and find 
Hellie and Agnes with you.” 

^^They do not know yet that I have come home 
again,” Hettie answered. 


90 The Ambitions of 

^^Why, where have you been?^^ Mary inquired 
in surprise. 

Hettie told her of her visit to Mrs. Bums’. 

Mary sat looking at her sister in amazement. 
Finally she arose, and, throwing her arms around 
Hettie’s neck, exclaimed: 

^^Oh, Hettie, dear, how you must have suffered. 
If I could have only helped you to bear it all.” 

‘‘1 have but one great sorrow, Mary, and it is 
impossible for anyone to help me bear it. If I 
could but make mother love me the least bit I 
would be happy, but her scornful looks are be- 
coming almost unbearable.” 

‘^1 wonder that you can wish anything of the 
kind,” Mary said. ‘‘You have received so many 
wrongs from mother that I am surprised you do 
not hate her.” 

“Sister, it was mother’s worldly pride that 
wronged me so. I do not feel that from her heart 
she would act so toward me, and I know that what 
I have suffered has been for the welfare of my 
soul, for through my mother’s coldness I have 
found my God,” she said. 

“But,” Mary said, “what am I going to do? 
Bella is to be our guest, and it will appear so 
strange to her that you have been stricken with 
smallpox, and I never told her anything of it.” 

“Do not worry about that, Mary. I will make 
eve^thing right, and Bella shall not see me, for 
I will leave home early this morning,” Hettie said. 

“Why, Hettie, dear, where do you mean to go 
at such an early hour ?” Mary asked. 

“I shall go back to Mrs. Burns’ home, as no 


A Worldly Woman. 91 

one but faithful Maggie Burke knows that I have 
yet returned from there.” 

^'Oh, it is terrible to think you have to leave 
your own home like some hunted creature and go 
among strangers.” 

must do it, for I would not care to have Bella 
see how coldly mother treats me, and I am sure 
that mother would cause a scene, for she must be 
very angry about my going to nurse Mrs. Burns. 
But, Mary, you must get some rest now. You 
must be very tired after all you have had to bear 
since last night,” Hettie said as she arose from her 
chair preparatory to again leaving her home to 
seek comfort in the home of a stranger. 

Lettie Brown had no cause for regret. Her so- 
ciety affair had passed off without one flaw. ^^Oh, 
how my friends will envy my wealth and society 
when they read of my success. Now I must find 
husbands for my daughters, and then I shall feel 
that I have all that one could wish for,” thought 
the cold, proud woman of the world as she sat in 
her room after all her guests had departed. 

Having at last decided that all the plans she 
had arranged were satisfactory to herself she pre- 
pared for some rest after the excitement and labor 
of the past few days, which she considered was well 
repaid by the fiatteering remarks of her society 
friends, whom she valued so greatly. 


92 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEK XYIII. 

The weeks passed, and Bella Brointon’s visit 
having ended, Hettie again came back to take up 
her place at home. The work still went on monot- 
onously under the guidance of the exacting Mrs. 
Brown. Hettie found herself a still greater 
stranger to her mother than before, but she never 
complained of her conduct. 

Mrs. Brown had at last found a husband for 
Agnes, and she meant to have nothing stand in the 
way of her cherished hopes. She threw Agnes 
continually in the way of the young man that she 
had selected, but Agnes little knew of her mother’s 
well laid plans. 

Charles Penrose was the young man whom Mrs. 
Brown had chosen from among her circle of friends 
as her daughter’s future husband. He was a wild 
young man, and with others of his set spent 
much of his time with cards and wine. He was 
but one and twenty, and having a very pleasing 
manner found himself the honored guest of Mrs. 
Brown. There he found Tom, a very good partner 
at billiards and cards, while he thought Agnes was 
a most charming hostess. 

The months passed, and at length, to Mrs. 


A Worldly Woman. 93 

Brown’s delight, Charles Penrose requested the 
pleasure of an interview with his proud hostess, 
a request that was readily granted. The servant 
conducted him to Mrs. Brown’s presence. 

^^How very fortunate I am to secure a few min- 
utes of your valuable time,” he said. have come 
to ask a great favor of you, Mrs. Brown.” 

‘^Well, Mr. Penrose,” she questioned coldly, 
although she could hardly control her delight, 
^Vhat is it, pray?” 

have to come to ask you for your daughter’s 
fair hand in marriage,” he answered. 

^^What a surprise you have given me, Mr. Pen- 
rose,” she said. ^‘^May I ask of which one of my 
daughters you are speaking?” 

‘^Agnes is the fair one whom I love,” he an- 
swered. 

^^You must give me time to consider your re- 
quest before I can give you an answer,” she said. 
^‘Have you spoken to Agnes of this matter?” 

'T thought it best to get your kind permission 
before I spoke to her,” he naively replied. 

am glad you have used so much discretion, 
for Agnes is so very young it is hard to tell how 
she would have accepted the proposition you have 
to offer.” 

^^My dear Mrs. Brown, I do hope you will not 
keep me waiting long for an answer. This is a 
matter of great moment to me.” 

^^You know, Mr. Penrose, that there is great 
danger in too much haste in such matters, and a 
little delay will be of no harm to your cause. You 
are both young, you know,” the worldly woman 


94 


The Ambitions of 


^‘Well, I suppose all young people look upon life 
as very short where matters pertaining to the heart 
are concerned. Now, when may I call for an 
answer T’ 

^^You may call one week from to-day, Mr. Pen- 
rose.’’ 

^^Thank you very much, Mrs. Brown,” he an- 
swered. ^^When I call again I hope it will be to 
receive a favorable answer.” 

hope you will not mention this subject to my 
daughter until you receive my answer.” 

'^Your orders shall be respected,” he said, and 
taking up his hat hade her ^‘good afternoon,” and 
left the house. 

^^How fortunate. I did not expect this to come 
so soon. I am so glad he has not said anything to 
Agnes, for I hardly know how she likes him. 
But I do not care what her thoughts on this sub- 
ject are, I have set my heart upon this marriage 
and it must take place, regardless of the cost. 
Just think how rich he will be when his uncle dies, 
and what more could Agnes wish for? She will 
have the doors of the best society thrown open to 
her if she marries into the Penrose family. I 
must find out Agnes’ opinion on this subject,” she 
thought, as she rang the hell and told the servant 
to tell ^^Miss Agnes that her presence was re- 
quested in her mother’s room.” 

The servant went in search of Agnes, whom she 
found in Hettie’s room. 

^^Miss Agnes, your presence is requested in your 
mother’s room,” the servant said. 

shall be there in a few minutes, Katie.” 

Agnes Brown was a fair young girl of eighteen. 


A Worldly Woman. 95 

with waving chestnut hair and beautiful, soft, 
brown eyes, shaded by sweeping lashes. She went 
through the long hallway singing snatches of a 
song she had received that morning. When she 
reached her mother^s room she asked in her sweet 
voice : 

^‘What do you wish of me, mamma ?” 

^^Sit down, Agnes, I wish to talk to you,” her 
mother answered. 

Agnes accepted the easy-chair her mother mo- 
tioned her to and sat down. 

^^ISTow, Agnes, I wish to know what you think 
of Charles Penrose,” her mother said. 

^‘Well, mamma, I have found Mr. Penrose a 
very pleasant companion and he is a splendid 
tennis player, but there are many things I have 
learned regarding Mr. Penrose that I do not care 
for,” she replied. 

Agnes, you must not think to find all your 
friends perfect. None of us are that, you know.” 

‘^Mamma, you do not know what I mean in 
regard to Mr. Penrose.” 

^^hat have you found so terribly wrong with 
your friend that you dislike him?” 

^‘Mamma, he is a gambler and scoffs at religion ; 
and I have seen him when he was unable to walk 
from the effects of too much wine,” Agnes an- 
swered. 

‘^You speak rather quick for one of your years, 
Agnes. Do you mean to say that Mr. Penrose 
is a gambler simply because he takes a hand in 
a friendly game of cards ? Agnes, you shock me. 
You might as well tell me that your brother, Tom, 
is a gambler too,” she exclaimed. 


96 


The Ambitions of 


am greatly afraid that such will be the case 
if poor Tom is allowed to continue in the com- 
pany he is now keeping,” Agnes replied. • 

‘^Agnes, yon are taking great privileges with 
the name of your brother, Tom, and Mr. Pen- 
rose.” 

feel no wrong in doing so, mamma, for what 
I have said is true,” she answered. 

‘‘^Never let me hear you speak in this manner 
again. It is very unladylike,” her mother angrily 
exclaimed. 

‘^Mamma, you surely would not think me so 
foolish as to express my opinions in public, as I 
have done in your presence?” 

‘Tt is very hard to tell what a thoughtless girl 
like you would be guilty of doing,” her mother 
said. 

^^Mamma, how can you speak so ?” Agnes said in 
a trembling voice. 

suppose I may as well let you know why I 
sent for you, Agnes. I have received a proposal 
for your hand in marriage and I wish you to un- 
derstand that I will not have you refuse, for any 
reason you may see fit to offer.” 

^^Dear mamma, do you not think that you are 
wrong in making me accept for my husband some- 
one for whom I may not have one spark of re- 
spect, let alone love; but do tell me to whom am 
I indebted for this honor?” 

‘^As you must know sooner or later, I may as 
well tell you that it is none other than the wealthy 
Mr. Penrose,” her mother answered. 

^^Oh, mamma! If it had been anyone else in 
this world but Charlie Penrose. This is awful. 


A Worldly Woman. 97 

I can never think of consenting to become his 
wife, mamma. I have not one spark of love in 
my heart for that man.” 

“Agnes, you must think that all marriages are 
contracted for love. You silly schoolgirl, I am 
surprised at you.” 

“Oh, mamma,” Agnes pleaded, “do let me re- 
fuse this offer, if you do not wish to break my 
heart.” 

“Agnes, your foolishness provokes me. I wish 
to hear no more such nonsense. You can make 
up your mind to become the wife of Charles Pen- 
rose, and I will not hear anything more said upon 
this subject until your engagement is openly an- 
nounced. Now you may go. I have told you my 
wishes and I want them executed.” 

Agnes left her mother with an aching heart. 
When she reached her own room she turned the 
key in the door and sank upon her knees at the 
bedside, giving vent to her sorrow by a passionate 
outburst of tears. Her hopes were all dead. She 
knew not how long she had been in her room until 
she was surprised to hear the bell ringing for sup- 
per. Arising from her knees she went to the 
mirror, and when she looked upon the image of 
her tear-stained face she knew it would he im- 
possible to go down to supper without showing 
signs of her recent grief. She bathed her face 
and started for a couch, but she knew someone 
would be sure to come in search of her if she did 
not appear at the supper table. She had just 
reached her couch when, as she had surmised, she 
heard someone enter the room, and, looking up, 
saw Hettie standing beside her. 


The Ambitions of 


98 

‘^Why did you not go down for supper? Mother 
is very angry at your absence/^ 

Agnes replied, have such a dreadful 
headache I could not think of eating/' 

“I am sorry you are not well. Won't you let me 
get you a cup of tea ? I am sure your head would 
feel better if you were to drink something," Hettie 
said and left the room to get her a cup of tea. 

^^If I could only have Hettie share my secret," 
Agnes thought, ^Vhat a blessing it would be to 
pour out my grief to her. But I must try to bear 
it alone. I know it would only make Hettie more 
unhappy." 

Hettie returned with a cup of tea. When Agnes 
had finished drinking she put the cup back on the 
tray, and Hettie, sitting down on the couch, threw 
an arm around her, saying: 

^^If I only could help you bear your pain, Agnes, 
dear." 

^^Oh, Hettie," A^es replied, hope you may 
never know the pain I am suffering this night," 
and the tears she had tried so hard to keep back 
ran down her pale cheeks like rain. 

"'Let me share your secret and trouble," Hettie 
pleaded. 

"Oh, Hettie, dear, it would be of no use, you 
would then be as unhappy as I am," Agnes re- 
plied. 

"Agnes, if you really feel that you would rather 
not have me share your trouble I shall not force 
you to do so, but it would cause me great pain if 
I thought I could be of any service to you in an 
hour of need and you refused to accept my aid " 
Hettie said. 


A Worldly Woman. 99 

^^You may yet have to help me bear my misery, 
Hettie, dear, but I shall wait until I find there 
is no escape,’^ Agnes whispered through her tears. 

‘‘Well, Agnes, whatever your troubles may be 
I hope you will find they have a pleasant ending,^’ 
Hettie replied. 

“If I could only think that such would be the 
case,’^ Agnes said, “wouldn^t I be happy though ?” 
and at the thought she seemed to brighten up a 
little. 

Hettie wondered in her mind what it could be 
that had made Agnes so unhappy, yet she could 
not but think that whatever it might be it had 
arisen from the interview Agnes had had with her 
mother, and which she knew had taken place in 
her proud mother’s room that very afternoon. 

The weeks passed and Agnes seemed to be get- 
ting paler and more careworn. All but her cruel, 
proud mother were at a loss to find what had 
overtaken Agnes’ bright spirits. Hettie longed 
to give her the comfort for which she knew her 
heart was longing, but she refrained from in- 
truding upon her, preferring rather to wait until 
the proper time arrived, which Agnes had spoken 
of. 


Lof C. 


lOO 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEE XIX. 

The evening at last arrived when Charles Pen- 
rose was to receive his answer. Mrs. Brown en- 
tered the room dressed in a magnificent evening 
gown of fawn colored broadcloth with a long 
train. 

^‘^Good evening, Mrs. Brown. I trust you are 
going to make my call this evening a pleasant one. 
I find suspense very hard to bear,” he said. 

“You know your request was so sudden, Mr. 
Penrose. I could not think of giving you an an- 
swer sooner, but you have my permission to speak 
to Agnes on this subject, and if she consents to be- 
come your wife I assure you of my best wishes for 
your future happiness,” she said. 

“You have removed a great load from my heart 
and I thank you very much for your kindness,” 
he replied. 

“You may find that Agnes objects to your suit, 
but she is such a child I think you can talk her 
into accepting you for her husband,” Mrs. Brown 
said. 

“Is Agnes home?” 

“Keally I cannot say, Mr. Penrose, but I shall 
go in search of her,” 


A Worldly Woman. loi 

^^Thank you so much/^ he said, ^^you are more 
than kind.” 

Agnes was already dressed when her worldly 
mother entered the room. 

see you have done as I requested, Agnes, but 
you have not one bit of color in your face. Come, 
this will never do. You must not go to meet your 
future husband when you are such a fright. Come 
with me to my room until I get some rouge for 
your pale cheeks,” she said. 

'^Oh, mamma, I hope you will let me refuse Mr. 
Penrose, as I have begged of you,” Agnes pleaded. 

^^What !” exclaimed her mother. ^^Have you not 
received my orders ? How dare you think of such 
a thing! In the name of Heaven, Agnes, what 
more do you wish than what this man can offer 
you ? Wealth and a good position in society are not 
to be scorned. You must think I have taken leave 
of my senses to ever think of allowing you to re- 
fuse so splendid an offer as this,” her mother ex- 
claimed. 

Agnes went down the splendid staircase in a 
slow, faltering manner. When she reached the 
door of the room wherein sat her future husband, 
he came forward to meet her, saying : 

Agnes, dear, what a pleasure this is. I hope 
you will let me be the happiest man on earth to- 
night. I love you so dearly, Agnes, I find it would 
make my life unbearable to have to live without 
you. Do speak, Agnes ! Do not keep me in sus- 
pense !” 

^^Mr. Penrose,” Agnes faltered, am sorry to 
find you have offered your heart to me, for, be- 


102 


The Ambitions of 


lieve me, I have nothing whatever to return. I 
do not love you.’^ 

‘^Agnes, dear, just let me make you my wife and 
I shall ask nothing more of you,” he pleaded. 

^^Well, Mr. Penrose, if you wish to make me 
your wife you may have my hand, but you shall 
never have my heart, for it contains not one spark 
of love for you,” Agnes answered in a trembling 
voice. 

Taking her slim white hand into his he placed 
a magnificent diamond ring upon her finger and 
imprinted a kiss upon her bloodless lips. 

‘^Agnes, dear,” he said, ^Vill you not name our 
wedding day? Do not let it be long, dear.” 

^Tt does not matter when it takes place,” Agnes 
replied. 

“This is April. Why not let it be in June, 
when the roses are all in bloom, my dear? That 
will give you plenty of time to make your prepara- 
tions.” 

“Just as you wish; as I have said before, it does 
not matter to me,” Agnes replied. 

“If you could know how happy you have made 
me. Dear, it will be like years to me until the 
time arrives when I can claim you as my own sweet 
bride; and, Agnes, I hope that you will learn to 
love me.” 

At last the hour arrived when he left Agnes, 
supposedly to go to his home, but only too well 
did she know that he would spend many hours at 
billiards before he would return to his uncle’s 
home. 

Her heart ached at the thought of being the 
wife of a mm whom she knew to be a gambler, and 


A Worldly Woman. 103 

to whom she knew she could never give her love. 
Alas, she had sacrificed her young life to the am- 
bitions of a worldly woman. 

Agnes had scarcely reached her room when her 
mother entered. 

“Well, Agnes, I am glad you have used so much 
common sense and did as I commanded you.” 

“Yes, mamma, I have done as you wished me 
to, at the cost of my life. I hope you may fully 
enjoy any benefits that you may derive from my 
miserable marriage.” 

“Agnes, I think you will live to thank me for 
the part I have taken in this marriage. You are 
too young to know the value of it at present,” her 
mother said. 

“I would far rather have a crust of bread and be 
happy than to have money and the best circles 
of society thrown open to me, which you seem to 
think such an honor. It is nothing but an empty 
farce,” Agnes replied. 

“When is your wedding to take place?” her 
mother asked. 

“I think I heard Mr. Penrose say something 
about June, but you will know when the engage- 
ment is openly announced,” she answered. 

“Let me see your engagement ring, Agnes. 
Oh ! Isn’t that a magnificent cluster of diamonds. 
Why, Agnes, no poor man could ever think of 
such a gift as this. I am sure it has cost a large 
sum,” her mother said. 

“For my part, mamma, I would far rather take 
the poor man if I loved him than Charles Penrose 
with all the riches you seem to think this ring de- 
notes him to possess,” Agnes said» 


104 


The Ambitions ot 


will be very rich when his uncle dies^ and he 
is quite an old man now/^ 

‘‘Well, I hope he will never leave his wealth to 
Charles Penrose to squander to the four winds 
for him, and that is surely what he would do,” 
Agnes exclaimed. 

“You know very little of the value of money 
when you speak as you do. You should feel 
honored, Agnes, to think you are to have the pleas- 
ure of helping your husband spend it,” her mother 
said. 

“I hope that I may never become such a lover of 
money as to wish to spend that which really be- 
longs to another.” 

When Hettie learned of Agnes’ engagement she 
hastened to find her and learn the truth. 

“Agnes, I sincerely hope you do not intend to 
let this marriage take place, when you have no 
love to offer the man you intend to marry. I hope 
you will never be guilty of such sacrilege. 
Agnes, do not let it take place. Stop before it 
is too late,” Hettie pleaded. 

“Indeed, Hettie, I have made up my mind to 
let this marriage take place,” Agnes replied. “I 
have begged and pleaded with mamma to let me 
escape from this dreadful marriage, but she is de- 
termined, and it is useless to think of her allow- 
ing me to refuse him, so let it go on and have an 
end to it, for I am sick and tired of it all,” she 
said. 

“Just think of what a life yours will be, Agnes. 
Suppose you should meet some one you really 
loved and you were the wife of another,” Hettie 
said, 


A Worldly Woman. 105 

suppose that will be the end of it, but what 
is my young heart to mamma ? Why, she would 
laugh at you, Hettie, as she has laughed at poor 
me, if she were to hear you speak of anything like 
love.” 


io6 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEE XX. 

The twenty-fifth of June, the day appointed for 
the marriage of Agnes Brown and Charles Pen- 
rose, had arrived at last. The sun rose high in 
the heavens and not a cloud was to be seen, but 
it mattered not to Agnes Brown, although it was 
her wedding day. 

She arose from her couch pale and weary. 
suppose the sun is going to shine its brightest to- 
day, to remind me how soon my bright hopes are 
to be forever past when I become the wife of 
Charles Penrose,^^ was her thought. 

The hour came for Agnes to go upstairs to 
be decked out in all her wedding finery. Her 
friends went into raptures over her magnificent 
wedding dress and the costly presents that were 
strewn everywhere around the house, but Agnes 
found not one morsel of joy in all her grand dis- 
play. The one thought that filled her mind was 
that she had been sold to secure it all. 

The roses were in bloom, the birds were sing- 
ing, and nature seemd to be surpassing itself. 
The handsome country residence of Mrs. Brown 
looked very inviting, indeed, with its many win- 


A Worldly Woman. 107 

dows shaded from the rays of the June sun by 
blue and white awnings, and its broad veranda 
overhung with beautiful rose vines and trailing 
honeysuckles, while the grounds with the closely 
cropped lawn, sloping down to a clear, purling 
stream that made its way through the beautiful 
grounds, dotted here and there with many splendid 
forest trees, all lent beauty to the scene. 

Soon the carriages containing Mrs. Brown’s so- 
ciety friends began to appear on the serpentine 
driveway which led to her beautiful residence. 
The last touch had been added to Agnes’ hand- 
some wedding gown, and the clergyman was wait- 
ing to perform the marriage ceremony, when 
Agnes came down the broad staircase followed by 
her many friends. She was met in the hall by 
the man she was so soon to call her husband. She 
was dressed in a gown of white duchesse satin and 
old point lace; the bridal veil was of tulle caught 
up with orange blossoms and a diamond star, the 
gift of the bridegroom ; her bouquet was of orchids 
and white lilacs, while her maid of honor was 
gowned in lace insertion and white satin ribbon, 
worn over an accordion-pleated tulle underdress. 

Many were the exclamations of admiration as 
Agnes entered the room to become the wife of 
Charles Penrose. The old white-haired clergy- 
man had pronounced the last words of the beauti- 
ful marriage ceremony when Charles Penrose 
kissed the beautiful bride at his side. Agnes shud- 
dered, and she looked like some beautiful marble 
figure as she stood there to receive the empty con- 
gratulations her many friends greeted her with. 
How terrible it had all been, she thought. ^^Little 


lo8 The Ambitions of 

do all these people know how I have been sold to 
gratify the wishes of my worldly mother’s heart.” 

Agnes went to her room to prepare for the wed- 
ding trip her husband had proposed for their en- 
joyment. Her mother came in to tell her how 
pleased she had been. 

Agnes,” she said, ^^you will never know how 
glad I am to think that by your marriage and by 
your hand the doors of the very highest society 
people are thrown open to me. . And think what 
a magnificent home you will have and the grand so- 
ciety affairs you will be able to give when Charles 
Penrose’s uncle dies and leaves all his wealth to 
your husband.” 

The carriage was at the door to take the newly 
wedded pair to the station, and the good-byes had 
been said when Hettie came to her sister’s side, 
saying as she kissed her: 

^^God bless you, Agnes, and help you.” 

This was the parting blessing of Hettie as the 
carriage drove from the door amid showers of rice 
and slippers, which the many guests had gathered 
to shower upon the happy bridal pair. 

^'Didn’t you think the bride looked beautiful?” 
Bella Brointon exclaimed as they stood on the 
veranda watching the carriage as it drove down 
the country road until it was lost from view. 

^^Don’t you think Agnes looked rather pale for 
a bride? She always had such roses, but I have 
missed them very much of late,” Miss Eiger said 
in reply to Bella’s remark. 

^Terhaps it is the excessive heat. Miss Eiger, 
that has made Agnes look so pale,” Bella replied! 

^'Well, I suppose it has been a trying time, with 


A Worldly Woman. 109 

all her splendid dresses to attend to and the many 
other details attached to such a wedding as this/^ 
Maud said. ‘This is an ideal wedding day, 
though, isn^t it?^^ 

“I should think it was,^^ said Harry Carstein, 
who came up at this moment, “but you ladies have 
forgotten what you owe to Mrs. Brown. Here 
you have been standing discussing the bride^s ele- 
gant trousseau while our hostess has been looking 
for you.^^ 

“How very thoughtless we have been. Come, 
Miss Eiger, let us go and crave the pardon of Mrs. 
Brown. Harry, conduct us to her, please. I am 
sure she will condemn our conduct as an insult 
if we do not apologize, Bella said. 

Harry Carstein conducted the two missing guests 
into the presence of the proud Mrs. Brown, saying 
that he hoped they would be excused for keeping 
the guests waiting. 

“Thank you, Mr. Carstein, you have been very 
kind in bringing them back ; we have been waiting 
for you all,^^ Mrs. Brown answered, and leaving 
them preceded to attend to the wants of some of 
her “swell friends,^^ as Tom called the society peo- 
ple. 

Dancing was indulged in until the small hours 
of the morning, when the guests who lived near by 
took leave of the gay scene to go to their homes, 
while there were others who came from a distance 
and whose stay was to be extended. Thus ended 
the grand wedding of Agnes Brown; and Mrs. 
Brown was overjoyed with her success. 


no 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEK XXL 

The summer months were drawing to a close 
and it was thought that Nellie Brown could not 
live very long. Nellie was a frail girl of twenty- 
Ottie, with auburn hair and handsome large, dark 
eyes. She had been ill in the spring, but Mrs. 
Brown was so absorbed in her preparations for 
Agnes^ wedding that she had failed to notice it. 

The wedding wa^ over and Tom and all the 
company had gone from Maple Crest. Mrs. Brown 
had gone to some distant watering place, as she 
said she was in need of a change after the excite- 
ment of her fair daughter’s wedding. 

Nellie’s health was failing rapidly. 

wish Agnes would return soon,” she said as 
Hettie sat by the side of her couch one bright 
September day. 

‘Tt will not be long, Nellie,” Hettie answered. 

^^Have there been any letters from mamma?” 

'^Yes, dear; father received one this morning.” 

‘^Did mamma express in her letter any intention 
of coming home?” 

^^No, I believe not,” Hettie answered. 

‘^Hettie, dear, I should like very much to see 
our clergyman to-morrow.” 


A Worldly Woman. iii 

will have Jim bring him to you in the morn- 
ing.” 

hardly know what I would do without your 
help, Hettie, dear. You are so good and kind to 
me. I know you must be tired though, having 
to sit here in my sick room night and day, when 
everyone else is enjoying their summer vacation,” 
she said. 

‘‘Nellie, dear, I would not enjoy myself if I were 
away, knowing that you were here alone. I would 
think my happiness almost complete if I could 
make you feel strong and bring the roses back 
to your cheeks once more,” Hettie said. 

“Well, sister, you shall never see the roses bloom 
again in my cheeks,” Nellie answered, “for I feel 
that my life is almost at a close.” 

“I hope, dear, you will be spared to enjoy many 
happy days before you are called away from us,” 
Hettie answered, but her voice was checked by emo- 
tion. 

The next day, Hettie, true to her promise, had 
Jim Smith go to the rectory to bring the Eeverend 
Father Loftion to the bedside of her sister. 

Everything was beautiful in the summer’s dying 
glory. The leaves had commenced falling upon 
the well-kept lawn of Maple Crest as Father Lof- 
tion drove up to the door of Lettie Brown’s fine 
country home. 

When Father Loftion reached Nellie’s room she 
greeted him with a smile of welcome. 

“How glad I am to see you. Father,” she said. 

“Well, Nellie, how are you this morning?” he 
asked. 


112 


The Ambitions of 


‘^Very weak/^ Nellie answered, ^^and my cough 
is so troublesome/^ 

must see if we cannot find something for 
this cough, my child.” 

^‘It is not for long that I will be in need of re- 
lief in this sad world, for I hope soon to enter my 
Father’s home,” Nellie replied. 

^^Are you reconciled to leave this busy world, 
my child?” Father Loftion asked. 

‘‘Yes, Father,” she answered, “for there is noth- 
ing here but misery and sin.” 

We must draw the veil over Nellie’s further 
conversation, as she made her peace with God 
and prepared her pure soul to enter back into 
its heavenly kingdom. 

When Father Loftion left her side he met Hettie 
in the hall. 

“I am sorry to be the bearer of such sad tidings, 
but I find your sister has not many days to spend 
in this world. Where is your mother?” he in- 
quired. 

“She has gone from home on a vacation,” Hettie 
replied. 

“I think you had better inform your mother that 
Nellie has but a few short days to spend upon this 
earth,” he said. 

The carriage was waiting at the door to take 
Father Loftion back to the rectory. Hettie came 
out upon the veranda and told Jim Smith to stop 

in the town of C and tell her father to send 

a dispatch at once for her mother to come im- 
mediately if she wished to see Nellie alive. 

“I shall call to-morrow,” Father Loftion said. 


A Worldly Woman. 113 

will send the carriage for yon, Father/^ Hettie 
replied, and returned to Nellie’s room. 

^^How do you feel now, dear,” she asked, ^^since 
the Eeverend Father Loftion has called to comfort 
you ?” 

am very happy, Hettie. I have not one 
care in this world, but it grieves me to know that 
you are so neglected. I do hope mamma will see 
her mistake before it is too late. It grieves me more 
than I can tell to see that mamma finds nothing to 
live for but the pleasures of this empty world ; and 
I hope, Hettie, dear, that you will try to comfort 
poor, dear Agnes, for I am sure that her marriage 
has been a very unhappy one although she has not 
complained. How I would like to see her and 
clasp her to my heart before my Heavenly Father 
calls me to my happy home/’ she said. 

^^Nellie, I hope Agnes will return before our 
Heavenly Father calls you home. How my poor 
heart shall miss you when you leave your earthly 
home.” 

^‘^My dear sister, when your earthly work is done, 
I hope God will let you share my crown. Do not 
weep so for me, Hettie. I shall he far happier 
than in this sphere where life is but a passing 
show,” she said in her weak and trembling voice. 

When the day had gone and the young Septem- 
ber moon appeared in all its glory, John Brown 
drove up the avenue of his fine country home to 
see his dying child. 

^^Oh, father, I am so glad you have come!” 
Hettie exclaimed. 

‘‘How is Nellie to-night?” he inquired. “I 
would have come sooner, but business has been very 


The Ambitions of 


1 14 

brisk, and Tom being away made it impossible for 
me to leave. Maggie Burke has not given me one 
moment^s peace since she heard Jim Smith telling 
me that you wished me to send a dispatch for 
your mother, he said. 

^Toor Maggie, I suppose she is in a great way,’^ 
Hettie replied. 

^^She insisted upon coming up here to-night, 
to stay until the last, and I know Lettie will be 
very angry, for she left Maggie to care for the 
house down there in C he said. 

^‘Did you receive any reply to mother’s dis- 
patch?” Hettie asked. 

her father answered. 

“Well, father, come and I will take you to 
Nellie’s room, for I know you will not have long 
to stay with us.” 

“Oh, papa ! How pleased I am to see you,” 
Nellie said. 

“How are you feeling to-night, Nellie?” 

“I am so very happy, father, since the Keverend 
Father Loftion has been to comfort and console 
me to-day. He is a man after God’s own heart,” 
Nellie said. “And just think, he is coming over 
again to-morrow. Papa, when I am gone I hope 
you will never be so busy as to overlook poor dear 
Hettie. Give her all the love and kindness that 
you can, for her life is sad and lonely, although she 
is so good and kind to everyone. Does she not 
deserve a better fate?” Nellie asked. 

“Dear, it pains me to hear you speak in this 
manner, although you will never know, Nellie, 
how much Hettie has suffered at the hands of her 
own proud mother. I have always tried to bestow 


A Worldly Woman. 115 

all the love and care I could on Hettie, to help fill 
up the gap which her mother^s neglect has caused 
in her life/^ her father answered. 

^^Do you think mamma and Agnes will he home 
soon? It seems so long since they went away,” 
she said. 

^^Well, Nellie,” her father replied, “your mother 
may return at any time, but for Agnes I cannot 
answer.” 

“I would like so much to bid them all good- 
bye before I leave them, and I know my time in 
this world is almost at an end.” 

“Nellie, you make me feel very sad when you 
speak of leaving us,” her father said. 

“I hope you will not regret my death, papa, 
dear, for all your immense fortune could never 
buy the happiness that I feel sure is in store for 
me in my Father’s home and I shall count the 
hours until He calls me for His own,” she said. 

“Nellie, dear, I wish that we all could look upon 
death as you do. To you it seems to have no ter- 
rors,” he replied. 

Agnes returned from her wedding tour just in 
time to see Nellie before she closed her eyes in 
death. 

“Oh, Agnes !” Nellie exclaimed, “I am so glad 
to see you. I wished so much to say good-bye to 
you before death claimed me for its own.” 

“Nellie, dear, you must not die and leave me 
when I need you so badly. My heart is broken 
with sorrow,” Agnes said through her tears. 

“Sister, dear, I am sorry to hear you speak so, 
for your life should be one of joy, and not sor- 
row, but I hope, Agnes, dear, that you will lay your 


ii6 The Ambitions of 

troubles at our Saviour’s feet and you shall be 
comforted. Put your trust in God, my sister, for 
has He not said, ^Ask and ye shall receive’?” 

This was the parting advice of Nellie before 
she found the place she longed for^ and which 
she hoped to find in death. 

^^Hasn’t mamma come yet?” 

^^No, Nellie, dear,” Hettie replied. 

^^What time is it, please?” 

^^Just four o’clock.” 

^^Then I shall not see mamma, but tell her 
I would have liked to had her kiss my lips. I feel 
my eyes grow dim, and I hear them call my name. 
My earthly work is done. Let me kiss you once 
more, Hettie, dear, before I go.” 

When Hettie lay Nellie back upon her pillow 
her soul had gone to meet its God. 

Mrs. Brown reached home at midnight, but there 
was no word of welcome for her from her dead 
daughter’s lips. 

Nellie was laid within her silent tomb and the 
funeral carriages had not as yet all returned from 
her newly-made grave when the doors of John 
Brown’s hotel were thrown open to the public once 
more. The wheel of business had been silenced 
quite too long by death’s grim hand. 

^^Well, Jim Smith, did you ever see anything 
to bate it? Faith, I thought they had money 
enough, but I’m sure a poor beggar would have 
acted with more respect than John Brown has done. 
Faith, he might have kept the bar closed for this 
piece of a day,” Maggie Burke exclaimed. 

^Tndade, Maggie, I think, too, that they might 


A Worldly Woman. 117 

have shown poor Miss Nellie that much respect 
anyhow/^ Jim replied. 

^^Faith, Jim, the mistress never dropped a tear, 
and, jnst think, she was away sporting her foine 
figure while her poor daughter lay dying at home !” 
Maggie exclaimed. “Shure you would have 
thought that her soul would have been filled with 
remorse.” 

^^Faith, Maggie, I suppose it is not the thing 
for one moving in the high society circles that the 
mistress moves in to cry when anyone belongin^ 
to them dies,” Jim replied. 

^^Well, faith, it must he composed of a lot of 
hard-hearted creatures if they have rules to guide 
their sorrow by.” 

^^Och ! Maggie, you know little about it, but 
shure the mistress was always a cold, proud wo- 
man.” 

^^Well, Jim, we have lived here long enough 
to know that to be true before the day or yester- 
day,” Maggie replied. do hope Miss Hettie will 
get a bit of rest. Her lot in this house has been 
a hard one, but yet she never complains,” Maggie 
said. 


ii8 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEE XXII. 

The year has gone by and the country resi- 
dence of Mrs. Brown is again filled with summer 
guests. The mistress has lost none of her cold, 
haughty beauty. 

‘^Mary, when is Bella coming?” her mother 
askd as Mary stood at the dining room window 
of their country home reading a letter. 

^^She will not reach here until Monday.” 

‘Ts that Mr. Carstein coming too ?” 

^^Xo, I think not. Harry is not going to have 
any vacation until late in August.” 

^^What a dreadful thing it must be for one to 
have no. vacation until the best of the summer 
has gone,” her mother exclaimed. ^TsnT that 
young man rich?” she asked. 

^^Xo, I believe Harry has no money only what 
he works for, as he owes everything to his uncle, 
who paid for his college course and then gave him 
a position in his office, hut I hear that he is a 
very fine business man,” Mary^ answered. 

‘‘Well, I suppose that is aU he will ever make 
out of it. As he has no money of his own he can 
never get any farther than clerk in his uncle’s 
store,” her mother said with scorn. 


A Worldly Woman. 119 

Harry does not happen to be in his nncle^s 
store at present,” Mary answered angrily. 

‘‘Have you seen the list of visitors we are to 
have this week?” her mother asked as she sat at 
the table sipping her iced claret. 

“No, I have no desire to know anything about 
them,” Mary replied. 

Lettie Brown went out of the dining room in 
search of something and Mary was left to her own 
sad thoughts, for the letter she held in her hand 
contained sad news of the home of her absent 
lover. 

When the proud woman reached her own room 
she walked the floor and a frown marred the beauty 
of her features. “I must put a stop to this busi- 
ness. A pretty kettle of fish I shall have if my 
daughter were to marry a poor shipping clerk with- 
out a penny to his name, but it shall not be if I 
know it. I will have to start at once though, 
for Heaven only knows how far this matter has 
gone already.” She reached the bell rope and 
rang for a servant. 

“Maggie, tell Alice Murphy that I wish her to 
come to my room,” she said. 

Alice left her work in the kitchen and went to 
seek her mistress. 

“Well, Alice,” Mrs. Brown said as she entered 
the room, “I suppose you find it very warm in the 
kitchen to-day.” 

“Shure, mum, it’s not the foinest place to be in 
this weather,” Alice answered, surprised at the 
pleasant manner of her mistress. 

“Well, Alice, did I not tell you that I wished 
you to go to the post office with the letters both 


120 


The Ambitions of 


morning and evening, and also bring back what- 
ever mail there might be, during our stay in the 
country?’’ her mistress asked. 

^^Shure, mum, I believe that is what you told 
me,” Alice answered in her rich brogue. 

^‘^Then why do I find Jim Smith bringing in the 
mail this morning?” her mistress asked. 

^^Faith, Maggie tould me to just stay at home 
this mornin’, for she said Jim Smith was going 

to C and would bring the mail from the post 

office as he was on his way home.” 

‘^Alice, I wish you to understand that such a 
thing must not happen again if you value your 
position in my home,” her mistress said. 

^^Shure, mum, you will never have need to speak 
of it again. I hope you will forgive me this time 
though,” Alice said. 

^^Now, Alice, you understand. I wish you to 
bring all the letters to this room, both before you 
go to the post office and when you come home with 
the mail. Do you understand my orders?” she 
asked. 

^^Yes, mum.” 

^^Then, Alice, we shall see how you perform your 
duty ; but, remember, do not say one word to any- 
one of my orders to you.” 

^Taith, mum, I shall do as ye bid me,” Alice an- 
swered. 

The weeks passed by and the month of August 
was at hand, but Mrs. Brown had not yet found 
what she had so long been expecting, and she was 
now preparing to go away for the remaining sum- 
mer months. 

^'Good morning, Alice ! Have you many letters 


A Worldly Woman. 121 

to-day Mrs. Brown asked as the servant entered 
the room, 

‘^Shure, mnm, there is a good number to-day/’ 
Alice replied. 

''You may go now, Alice; I shall attend to 
the mail when I have finished my toilet,” she said. 

When Mrs. Brown found herself alone in her 
room she turned the key in her door and, taking 
a chair, sat down to examine the contents of the 
mail bag. "At last !” she exclaimed. Then break- 
ing the seal of her daughter’s stolen letter she 
read it, tore it into* shreds and, fearing this was 
not enough, lighted a match and burned the pieces 
in the open grate. 

"How fortunate that I was home when this silly 
letter came. I shall soon stop such correspondence 
as this, for I have everything in my own hands,” 
she thought as she selected from a side table some 
paper on which to answer the letter she had just 
destroyed. How little she cared in her cruel pride 
how wide the gulf would be made between two 
loving, trusting lives by the forged letter she was 
about to write. She thought of no one or nothing 
but her own soaring ambitions. The envelope was 
addressed and had been put in her valise before she 
rose to finish her packing. She was to leave in 
the morning for her trip to the shore. After she 
had finished packing she rang the bell for Alice 
Murphy. 

"Well, Alice,” she said as the young Irish girl 
entered the room, "I want you to look very care- 
fully over all the letters that leave here for the post 
office and any you may see addressed to Mr. Harry 
Carstein you are to keep for me until I return, 


122 


The Ambitions of 


while any that may come with this postmark upon 
them, addressed to Miss Mary, you are to be sure 
to keep. Now, Alice, do you really understand 
the orders I have just given you?^^ she asked. 

‘^To be sure I do, mum.^^ 

^^Then, Alice, when I return we shall see how 
faithfully you have performed your duties.” 

^Taith, I hope there is nothing wrong in me 
doin^ as ye bid me,” Alice said. 

Alice, do you think for one moment that I 
would ask you to do anything that would be 
wrong ?” 

^^Och, faith, I hardly tho% that a foine, proud 
woman as you be would do anything that would 
cause sorrow or woe to anyone,” Alice replied. 

“While you are employed as my servant, Alice,' 
I never wish you to question my actions. Do you 
understand?” Lettie asked in her scornful man- 
ner, while a deep flush covered her handsome face 
from the rebuke she had just received from her 
faithful servant. 

“To think ! Alice surmised that I meant to do 
someone harm, but I know I have put away such 
thought from her mind by the reply I made. I 
am sure she will do my bidding, although she may 
be a little hard to manage at first,” Lettie thought. 

Mrs. Brown left her country residence for the 
shore. 

“Eeally, Hettie, I believe mother is looking 
younger. Her hair seems to get blacker and there 
is not one line of care traced on her beautiful face,” 
Mary remarked as they sat in the library after their 
mother had departed from Maple Crest. 

“I do not think mother will ever look old, for 


A Worldly Woman. 123 

the simple reason that she takes good care that 
nothing disturbs her peace of mind. Poor Agnes 
looks like an old woman since her marriage. How 
very unhappy her married life must be.'’^ 

^Tor my part/' said Mary, ‘‘1 think Agnes was 
very foolish to give in to mother's whims so far as 
to marry Charles Penrose. I never could see any- 
thing about him to admire. He always seemed so 
empty headed." 

wish Agnes had heeded my advice, but she 
always was afraid of mother's anger," Hettie re- 
plied. 

“I should like to see mother select a husband 
for me and bid me marry him, as she did with 
Agnes. I certainly would show her that I had a 
will of my own," Mary said, in her proud, haughty 
manner. 

^^Well, Mary, I hope you will never be driven 
to such extremes, but you know that poor Agnes 
has not your spirit," Hettie answered. 

‘H am at a loss to understand why I have re- 
ceived no letters," Mary said after Alice Murphy 
had returned from the post office. 

^^Why, Mary !" Hettie exclaimed, ^Vhy do you 
speak of having received no letters when you al- 
ready have four opened in your hand." 

‘^Those four are of no value whatever to me," 
she answered. 

^^Then that covers all. Have you a lover with- 
out my knowledge?" Hettie smilingly inquired. 
‘^Eeally, Mary, you look like a summer storm cloud 
with that blushing frown upon your face." 

am sure, Hettie, it is enough to make one 
cross when she meets the same disappointment 


124 The Ambitions of 

day after day,” she said as she rose to leafve the 
table. 

^^Wait, Mary! I have some good news for 
you.” 

^^Do be quick, then, for I have some letters to 
write before Alice again goes to the post office,” 
Mary answered. 

^^We are to have company for the coming week,” 
Hettie said. 

^^By the way you speak one would think that 
company was an unheard of thing here. Are we 
ever without someone ? I knew we would not enjoy 
our quiet very long until someone would come 
to intrude upon us, and I am truly tired of com- 
pany.” 

think you are very selfish indeed to not wish 
one more guest to join our stay here at Maple 
Crest.” 

^Tray, do tell me who the guest is to be. I am 
sure I have been standing here fully ten minutes 
just to find out,” Mary exclaimed. 

^^It is to be none other than Mrs. Agnes Pen- 
rose,” Hettie replied in a pleased tone. 

^^What a surprise! Why, Hettie, I understood 
that Agnes was not coming home from the shore 
until September.” 

^‘Well, I do not know the reason she has re- 
turned, but we shall know to-morrow.” 

‘Toor Agnes,” said Mary, ^Ve must try to make 
her visit a pleasant one. Is her husband coming 
too ?” 

cannot say,” Hettie replied. Agnes did not 
mention him in her letter.” 


A Worldly Woman. 


125 


CHAPTER XXIIL 

The years have passed and we find many 
changes. Philip Burns has become a temperance 
man once more. He has been saved to retrieve 
what he lost during his long years of dissipation. 

“Father, dear, here is something which I hope 
will be of some use to you now that you are start- 
ing out in business for yourself,” his son said. 

“What have we here, my dear boy ?” 

“That book will explain everything,” Frank 
Burns replied. 

“To think God has blessed me with such chil- 
dren after all my years of neglect. It does me 
good to see my children love me so dearly when 
I really deserve their scorn !” he exclaimed. 

“Philip, dear, in the years gone by, you were 
so much overpowered by the effects of rum that 
you had no time to think of the many blessings 
God was continually showering upon you,” his 
loving wife replied. 

“And how little I deserved them!” 

“Well, Philip, dear, I trust that you will never 
fall back into those sinful ways again, for I think 
that I could never fight lifers battles over again.” 


126 


The Ambitions of 


Annie, dear, I hope that with God’s help and 
grace I shall never fall so low again.” 

^^Oh, how happy you have made us. Sometimes 
I wonder if our present happiness is not some 
fleeting dream.” 

^^Annie, dear, I trust that we may spend many 
happy years together to pay for my neglect in the 
past.” 

‘^Where is there a family so happy as ours, 
Philip? When I think of the many homes made 
desolate by rum I could cry out in my pity.” 

‘^Well, I hope that they may meet the blessing 
that I have met and be saved for a better end,” 
her husband replied. 

‘^When do you think you will start out in your 
new enterprise, Philip?” 

‘^My dear,” he answered, ^‘^this money has been 
a great surprise to me, for I had never given a 
thought to the fact that Frank has been working 
for so long, and I feel now that I must do some- 
thing to help repay my son’s goodness to me after 
all he has suffered at my hands, so I think it best 
for us to go into partnership together, for Frank 
is a good workman and likes the business, and if 
nothing happens we sJiaU start in a few weeks.” 


A Worldly Woman. 


127 


CHAPTEE XXIV. 

Harry Carstein^s life has been overcast by 
gloom. Since we last met him his dear mother 
left this world for a happier one. 

‘^What shall I ever do without my dear mother ! 
Who will share my cares and troubles now? Oh, 
mother! how cruel the dart has been that has 
torn you from me,” he cried as he stood by his 
mothers tomb, whither he had come to say good- 
bye, for he was leaving his childhood home and 
going to live among strangers. Little he thought 
what sorrow awaited him in his new home. 

‘^My dear boy, it pains me greatly to see you 
have to leave our home,” his uncle said, “but 
Harry, I hope you will never have cause to regret 
this change.” 

“Well, uncle, it has caused me great sorrow to 
leave this home where I have received nothing but 
love and kindness, but now that my dear mother 
has been called away I hardly think that I would 
care to lean on you any longer. I should like to 
show you how very much I value your kindness to 
me and I think this is my time to do so.” 

“You will find Harvey Steele a just master, and 


128 


The Ambitions of 


you will soon be at home in your new field of labor. 
I know it is useless to ask it, but I do hope that 
you will let us all hear from you and how you are 
succeeding in your new home.^^ 

^^Oh, uncle, do you think for a moment that I 
would be guilty of such neglect, after all the 
kindness I have received from you. To think of 
forgetting you simply because I am leaving you 
for a time!’’ he exclaimed. 

“Well, my dear boy, I know you will find your 
time greatly taken up.” 

“Uncle, you will get at least one letter from me 
every week unless I am too ill to write,” Harry 
said. 

The carriage which was to take him to the 
station was waiting at the door, the good-byes 
were said, and with a heavy heart Harry left the 
home where he had spent so many happy years. 

The train pulled out of the station and Harry 
found much to admire in the beautiful scenery 
which was presented to his view as the train 
passed on its way — the hills and valleys and the 
beautiful meadow lands dotted with herds of fine 
cattle, some of which were knee deep in the clear 
streams, while others lay under the spreading shade 
of the trees. The air was heavy laden with the 
perfume of the new grass and May flowers as 
Harry journeyed on his way to his new home in 
Eastern Pennsylvania. The train rolled into the 
station at length and Harry found himself stand- 
ing on the platform looking for some friendly face 
when someone touched him upon the shoulder. 
Turning around he saw a coachman in green livery, 
who touched his hat and inquired : 


A Worldly Woman. 129 

^^Are you waiting for Mr. Steele’s carriage ?” 

Harry answered him affirmatively, whereupon 
the servant said: 

‘Tlease come this way, sir, and you will find 
Mr. Steele’s carriage.” 

He followed the coachman and found a splendid 
carriage waiting to take him to his new home. 

As the coachman took his seat and started to 
drive homeward he said to Harry: 

^^Mr. Steele was very much disappointed when 
he found it would be impossible for him to be on 
hand to meet you.” 

‘^Yes, I expected to see him,” Harry replied. 
^^Is Mr. Steele well?” 

‘^Quite well, sir, but he was called away on busi- 
ness this morning and that is why he failed to 
meet you.” 

The carriage turned into a drive which led 
through a well-kept park, through which Harry 
could see a beautiful house. The coachman opened 
the door of the carriage and Harry found him- 
self in a quaint little portico, where stood a gray- 
haired servant to bid him welcome. 

‘T suppose you would like to go to your room at 
once after your Journey?” the servant inquired. 

‘^Thank you, I shall be pleased to do so.” 

Following the servant he found himself amid 
scenes of splendor, and when he looked from the 
window his gaze rested upon a beautiful land- 
scape. 

‘^Oh, mother !” he exclaimed, ^fif you were here 
to share my delight in this beautiful spot.” 

After he had enjoyed a refreshing bath and was 
fxGb jroiu file, fillet pf bis long journey^ he left his 


130 


The Ambitions of 


room and took his way down the splendid stair- 
case. When he reached the hall he was met by a 
lady with a sweet, kind face and a voice as gentle 
as the summer breeze. 

‘‘Let me bid you welcome, dear boy,’’ she said 
as she placed a kiss upon Harry’s manly brow. 

“Thank you,” he answered. 

“I am so very sorry that my husband was called 
away from home to-day, when you are just about 
to enter into it.” 

“My dear Mrs. Steele, in this advanced age of 
ours business waits for no one.” 

“Well, I suppose Mr. Steele will be here with 
us to-morrow, if it is at all possible for him to 
get through with the business which he went to 
attend to ; but come, my dear boy,” she said, “you 
must be in need of some refreshment,” and she 
conducted him to the dining room, where lunch 
was awaiting them. 

She dismissed the servants, telling them she 
would ring when their services were needed, and 
she and Harry dined alone. At the conclusion 
of the meal, Mrs. Steele led the way to a beautiful 
summer house. 

“I hope you will not get homesick in this quiet 
place of ours, for we live a very quiet life,” she 
said, “but during the months of July and August 
I make it a rule to always fill my house with young 
people and I hope you will enjoy my visitors when 
the time for them to come arrives.” 

“I am always at home anywhere that my home 
and business may be,” Harry replied, “and I think 
I shall not get very homesick he^re^ ^ 


A Worldly Woman. 13 1 

have left all my dear old friends in the home of 
my childhood.” • 

‘^And now, my dear boy, we shall enjoy a quiet 
evening and I trust that my husband may meet 
with no disappointment and be able to join us to- 
morrow.” 


132 


The Ambitions ,ofi 


XXV. 

The months have seemed to fly by and Harry 
Carstein has been in his new home a year and a 
half. July is here again. Harry is happy as he 
sits at his desk to write a letter to Mary Brown, 
telling her how happy he is, as his vacation will 
he at hand in a fortnight and he intends calling 
at Maple Crest on his way to his uncle’s home in 
Baltimore, to ask her parents for her hand in 
marriage. 

‘^Well, Harry, you are not going to escape this 
year, for our guests arrive to-day and a number are 
to come later on,” Mr. Steele said as he held an 
open letter in his hand. 

shall be pleased to meet them,” Harry an- 
swered. 

‘‘Harry, I wish you would call Ruth and me 
aunt and uncle. It would be more homelike for 
you to address us so.” 

“All right, Mr. Steele,” Harry answered as he 
sealed the letter he had just finished writing. 

“I trust you will enjoy your well-earned vacation 
Harry.” 

“Thank you, uncle, I am sure to do so.’’ 


A Worldly Woman. 133 

am pleased to see that N’orman Grant has 
acted so manly by taking yonr place and letting 
you have a vacation. I think he tries very hard 
to show you how he would like to return the many 
kindnesses you have bestowed upon him since you 
first entered my office, and I am very glad, Harry, 
that you have been so kind to Norman, for he has 
no one to help him. . He has been shipwrecked 
upon the shores of life.” 

‘^Uncle, it pleases me to help him and I think 
that if his health does not fail he will be entitled 
to a higher post of duty in the fall,” Harry an- 
swered. 

‘H assure you there is nothing that would please 
me better than to advance Norman,” Mr. Steele 
replied. 

^Gs there a letter to be sent to Earl & Sons to- 
day?” 

‘^No, Harry,” Mr. Steele replied as he took up 
his hat and gloves preparatory to starting home, 
‘^and I do wish you would come home early this 
afternoon and bring Norman Grant along with 
you.” 

‘H would be delighted to bring him, uncle,” 
Harry replied, ‘^but I’m afraid it will be no easy 
matter to get Norman to accept your kind in- 
vitation. He is sure to invent some excuse.” 

^^Well, Harry, I hope you will meet with suc- 
cess in your efforts to secure the company of your 
young friend for this afternoon,” Mr. Steele said 
as he left the office. 

Harry’s thoughts were, to say the least, pleasant 
ones, for he knew that Norman Grant would enjoy 
an afternoon spent in Mr, Steele’s fine home. 


The Ambitions of 


134 

Harry left his desk to go in search of Norman, 
whom he found very busily engaged in the ship- 
ping department. 

‘^Norman, you are to come home with me to- 
day and enjoy yourself as my guest/^ he said. 
‘‘Eemember, Mr. Steele will accept no excuse.’^ 

‘^Oh, Mr. Carstein, why have you asked me ? It 
is very kind of you, I know, but I cannot accept 
your invitation.’^ 

‘‘1 will have to have your excuse, Norman, be- 
fore I excuse you,” Harry said with mock gravity. 

‘^‘Then, Mr. Carstein, in the first place I happen 
to be minus a dress suit.” 

^“^Well, of all things ! I never knew you were 
such a swell, Norman,” Harry exclaimed. 

^‘1 hope you do not wish me to add any more to 
my excuse.” 

“No, Norman, that one will do, but you must 
come home with me this afternoon.” 

“If you really wish it, Mr. Carstein, I suppose 
I must go back with you,” Norman said. 

Twelve o’clock had just been announced by the 
bells of the busy town when a letter carrier en- 
tered the office of the warehouses of Harvey Steele. 
Harry made a note of the business letters and an- 
swered all that called for an immediate reply. 
When all had been completed, one letter still re- 
mained unopened upon his desk. Taking up the 
paper cutter he soon had the perfumed letter 
opened and in his hand. “What a strange letter,” 
he thought. “This is surely not for me. There 
must be some mistake.” He took the envelope 
and looked at the address and then examined the 


A Worldly Woman. 135 

postmark, but there was no mistake. He found all 
only too true. When he read the letter it sent 
a chill to his trusting, loving heart. 

‘^Maple Crest. 

^^Dear Mr. Carstein: Your letter at hand. 
Hope you will excuse me for confessing that it 
would be impossible for me to even think of such 
a thing as becoming the wife of a poor man. I 
trust that you may find someone among your 
many friends who will accept the honor you have 
chosen to confer upon me, but to ever become the 
wife of a poor man I never could consent. 

remain your friend, 

^"Mary Brown.''" 

As Harry read the cruel letter it seemed to him 
as though every word of it were engraved upon 
his heart. He sat at his desk like one dazed. 
When Herman Grant entered the office and saw 
him with such a strange look upon his handsome 
face, he exclaimed: 

^^Why, Mr. Carstein, whatever has happened 
you ? Are you ill but Harry did not hear him. 
‘‘Come, Mr. Carstein, you are ill. Let me help 
you to the couch in Mr. Steele’s private office and 
then I shall go for a doctor;” but Harry still sat 
in a dazed condition. 

Horman took the open letter from his hand and 
was about to place it in Harry’s pocket when it 
was torn from his hand. 

‘"Ho"*raan Grnnt, would you be guilty of such a 
thing as to place a scorpion in your friend’s 
breast?” Harry cried. 


136 The Ambitions of 

‘^Why do you speak in that way?’^ Norman in- 
quired. 

^^Get a match, Norman, and burn this cruel 
letter for me, so that I may see the ashes of my 
idol and forever bury all dreams of my early love.^^ 

Norman took the letter from his hand and 
when the last piece of paper was in ashes Harry 
gave a sigh and arising from the couch thanked 
him. 

“I shall always feel nearer and dearer to you 
for your kindness to me to-day than I would have 
done, perhaps, had we lived together for years,’^ 
Harry said. 

‘^Do you feel better now?^’ Norman asked. 

^^Yes, now that you have buried my misery for- 
ever in the ashes of that letter. Come, let us go 
and get ready. It is almost time for the carriage 
to be here,” Harry said. 

^^Mr. Carstein, I do wish you would let me re- 
fuse your invitation, for I feel that you would 
rather be alone this afternoon.” 

‘^Do not think to escape so easily. I will have 
plenty of time in my own company,” Harry an- 
swered, ^^and I want you to drop that everlasting 
Mister from my name. By the way you address 
me one might think I was some English lord. 
Now if you and I are to be friends you will please 
do as I have requested.” 

‘^Very well. If you wish me to address you in 
the manner of an honored friend I shall be pleased 
to do so,” Norman answered. 

^'Here is the carriage now, Norman, Let Us en- 
joy our pastime.” 


A Worldly Woman. 137 

am afraid I will be made unfit for my work 
if I am going to give way like this.’^ 

^‘Well, Norman, yon know that ^all work and 
no play makes Jack a very dull boy,’ and I do 
not want yon to become dnll nntil yon have met 
with the snccess for which yon are longing.” 

‘^If I reach the top, Harry, I shall know whose 
hand helped me there,” Norman replied. 


138 


The Ambitions ot 


CHAPTEK XXVL 

The months passed by and Mary Brown had 
received no letters from her far-off lover. At last 
her proud heart rebelled at Harry Carstein’s long 
silence. ^Hf Harry has tired of my love I will 
never let him know that it has caused my heart 
such pain/^ Mary thought, little knowing the 
truth. 

Mrs. Brown at last has cause for joy as the 
uncle of Charles Penrose has closed his eyes in 
death. The haughty woman of the world sat in 
her own splendid home, laying out plans for her 
daughter’s success now that she and her husband 
were to share the great broker’s wealth. ^^Oh, how 
Agnes will make society ring when she is mistress 
of Eagle Crest,” thought Mrs. Brown. 

The day dawned that was to see the remains of 
Charles Penrose, Sr., committed to the earth. 
When the funeral was over Agnes’ husband invited 
his proud mother-in-law to wait until his uncle’s 
will should be read. Nothing would please Lettie 
Brown better. Had she not waited and planned 
all these years for this happy moment, when her 


A Worldly Woman. 139 

daughter was to become the mistress of this great 
wealth and the magnificent residence? When all 
were seated the lawyer broke the seal of the legal- 
looking document. The stillness was almost op- 
pressive. At length he cleared his throat and 
commenced to read. Agnes was seated at her 
proud mother^s side when the lawyer started to 
read the will. 


^^Eagle Crest, Nov. — 18 — . 

^^To my wife I leave in trust as long as she 
may live, all my wealth and lands. At her death 
it is to be equally divided between my son, James 
Penrose and my daughter Florence Penrose. 

^‘To my nephew, Charles Penrose, I bequeath 
two hundred a year and a home so long as his aunt 
lives.^^ 

Agnes Penrose looked up into her haughty 
mother’s face and said: 

^^Well, mamma, dear, you have been deeply 
foiled in your well laid plans to secure this wealth, 
but the price paid for your worldly greed has been 
a very dear one, for you have ruined my life for- 
ever by forcing me to marry.” 

Mrs. Brown was indeed a very disappointed wo- 
man when she found that all her well laid plans 
had failed. It was indeed a bitter drop in her 
cup. 

When Charles Penrose learned the contents of 
his uncle’s will, it was in a measure as much of 
a surprise to him as it had been to his proud 
mother-in-law. He raged in anger, cursing the 
man who had ruined him. ^‘To think that I be- 


140 


The Ambitions of 


lieved myself heir to all my -uncle’s wealth, and 
now I am almost a beggar.” 

When Charles Penrose’s rage had spent itself, 
he was indeed a poor, dejected soul, for he had 
been reared in the lap of idleness and steeped 
in all the vices that nearly always accompany 
it. He was to be pitied in his despair. 

^^Oh, God!” he cried, ^'had I but a wife’s love, 
to help me bear this terrible blow,” but Agnes 
Penrose relented not to the cries of her disap- 
pointed husband. 

Mrs. Brown had not been idle, as she had selected 
a husband from her circle of society friends for 
the beautiful, wilful daughter whom she had 
parted from her lover by the forged letter, and 
had now secured a husband to suit her own taste. 
What was her daughter’s life to her worldly heart ? 

Five years have passed since Harry Carstein re- 
ceived the cruel letter that forever parted him 
from the love of his youth. Many changes have 
taken place since that one sad day in two young 
lives. 

Mrs. Brown has just returned from the funeral 
where she had received so shocking a surprise. 
As she sat alone in her fine home no voice of warn- 
ing entered her heart to try and make amends for 
her past crimes. This was the evening that Mary 
Brown was to accept the man of her proud 
mother’s choice for her husband. 

Mrs. Brown raised her fair, white hand to the 
bell rope and a servant entered the room. 

^^Katie, tell Miss Mary that I wish to see her.” 

Mary appeared at her mother’s summons, look- 


A Worldly Woman. 141 

ing more beautiful than ever, but with a look of 
defiance on her proud face. 

“Well, Mary, I suppose you know why I re- 
quested your presence. This is the evening for 
you to give Mr. Kerr your answer.’^ 

“My, how you do hurry up affairs, mother.” 

“I am almost tired of your conduct, Mary. 
Have I not been put off by your whims for one 
long year and a half. A great hurry, I should 
say ! I really wonder how Mr. Kerr has had the 
patience to wait so long.” 

“Oh, the old ogre, how I do hate him !” 

“How dare you speak so, Mary ! I am ashamed 
of you.” 

“Perhaps when I become Madam Kerr you will 
get over my wilfulness. Will I not make a beau- 
tiful old man^s darling, mother ?” Mary tauntingly 
inquired with a malicious smile, as she surveyed 
her beautiful figure in the mirror. 

“There is one sure thing,” her mother answered, 
“the man who marries you can be proud of you.” 

The evening at last arrived and Mary had been 
absent from home all afternoon. The clock upon 
the mantle of her mothers room chimed out the 
hour of seven when the proud woman touched the 
bell, which was answered by Maggie Burke. 

“Maggie, hasnT Mary returned?” 

“No, ma^am.” 

^‘Kindly tell me when she does come home.” 

“It is almost time,” she mused, “for Paul Kerr 
to call for Mary’s answer. Why does she try me 
so ? I am sure, though, that she will submit to my 
orders to-night. She has given me more trouble 


142 The Ambitions of 

about this splendid match than she will ever 
know/^ 

Maggie Bnrke cut short Mrs. Brown’s thoughts 
by entering the room to announce that Miss Mary 
had returned. 

Mrs. Brown gave a sigh of relief. ^^Now all 
will be well,” she thought, but the proud, cold 
woman of the world little knew what disappoint- 
ment she was soon to receive from the beautiful 
daughter whom she had wronged so deeply in the 
years gone by. 

Mary was met in the hall by Maggie Burke. 

^^Is everything all right?” Maggie inquired. 

‘^Yes, everything is ready. Your assistance is all 
that is needed to make our well laid plans a suc- 
cess,” Mary answered, as she mounted the stairs 
to make herself ready to receive the man her 
proud mother had chosen for her husband. 

Maggie Burke crossed the hall in a quick stride 
and entered the magnificent rooms of her proud 
mistress. Opening the low window she admitted 
a young man of about thirty-two and conducted 
him to a curtained recess in one of the rooms, then 
she quickly glided away. She was none too soon, 
for at that moment the door bell rang and Mr. 
Paul Kerr was announced. 

Mrs. Brown came down to receive the man that 
she had chosen for the husband of her fair daugh- 
ter. 

^^ary will be here in a few moments,” she 
said. 

Paul Kerr was a man of five and sixty with a 
very red complexion, while his bead-like eyes were 


A Worldly Woman, 143 

overhung with deep, heavy eyebrows, which gave 
to him a very repulsive appearance. 

When at length Mary Brown entered, dressed in 
a magnificent gown of amber satin, while at her 
fair white throat gleamed and sparkled a beauti- 
ful diamond brooch, Paul Kerr looked upon her in 
all her dazzling beauty and his soul was filled with 
delight. 

^‘Oh, what a great pleasure it will be to call this 
beautiful creature my wife,^^ he thought as he 
crossed the room to take her fair, white hand in 
his own firm clasp. 

^^Mary, dear, I hope you will at last grant me 
this fair hand and heart, for I love you as my life. 
I have more wealth than I can ever spend and it 
will all be at your disposal, dear, when you be- 
come my wife,^^ he said. 

^^Your wealth, Mr. Kerr,” Mary answered, 
^^may appear as a very tempting morsel to some, 
but to me it is but dross. What is all the wealth 
in the world to a life of misery ?” 

‘^Why, my dear, do you speak in this strain ?” 

^‘Mr. Kerr, if I were to become your wife I 
should indeed be unhappy. Your gold could never 
buy my heart,” she answered in a scornful voice. 

Mrs. Brown looked at her daughter in blank 
surprise when she heard her reply. 

‘^My dear Miss Brown, why do you refuse to be- 
come my wife?” Paul Kerr pleadingly asked. 

At that moment a man stepped out from the 
recess of the curtained door and stepped to Mary’s 
side, saying: 

^‘She is already the wife of another, sir.” 

So surprised were Mrs. Brown and Paul Kerr 


144 


The Ambitions of 


that for a time they could not find voice to speak, 
but at length Lettie Brown arose from her chair 
and demanded in a rage : ^‘What farce is this you 
are playing? Arthur Long, how dare you enter 
my home? And you, a poor beggar, to dare tell 
me that you are my daughter’s husband,” she ex- 
claimed. 

may not be rich in this world’s goods, Mrs. 
Brown,” Arthur Long answered, but my heart is 
rich in the great love I hold for my dear wife.” 

‘^Where is the proof of all this?” the enraged 
woman demanded. 

^^Here it is, Mrs. Brown,” Arthur Long an- 
swered as he handed her a marriage certificate. 

^^And if you wish any further information 
mother,” Mary interrupted, ^Ve were married this 
afternoon by the Eeverend Father Loftion at half- 
past four.” 

When Mrs. Brown was assured that her daugh- 
ter had foiled her plans she raged and stormed 
until Paul Kerr had left, and then she turned 
Mary and her husband out of the house. 

^^How dreadful this day has been!” Lettie 
Brown exclaimed. When she reached her own 
room she sank into a chair and tried to collect 
her scattered thoughts. shall never forgive 
Mary for what she has done to-day. How shall 
I ever get over this disgraceful marriage? Just 
think, she could have been the wife of Paul Kerr 
who had wealth to lay at her feet, and she chose 
that good-for-nothing Arthur Long instead. Oh, 
my Heavens, this almost drives me mad,” she ex- 
claimed as she sat alone in her room. 


A Worldly Woman. 


145 


CHAPTER XXVIL 

The years have gone by and Mary Brown has 
never gained her proud mother’s forgiveness for 
marrying Arthur Long. 

Charles Penrose has become worse than a tramp, 
but Lettie Brown has no room for him in her fine 
home. 

Agnes Penrose drooped day by day as her hus- 
band’s cruelty became more and more unbearable. 
He taunted her upon her religion, for he found 
that was the only point which could make his wife 
flinch. 

‘^Your lady mother thought of her religion. 
I’ll vow, or you would never have become my wife. 
I am glad though that has made you suffer for her 
wants,” he said one day. 

“I am sorry to confess, Charles, that there are 
far too many such Catholics in this world as my 
poor, misguided mother. They are indeed a sad 
disgrace to the religion in which they profess to be- 
lieve. Far better for anyone to be dead than 
unite their lives to one without faith,” Agnes 
exclaimed. 

This is but part of the scenes that occurred fre- 


146 


The Ambitions of 


quently in Agnes Penrose’s home, and it is not 
to be wondered at, for unhappiness is sure to fol- 
low the curse of mixed marriages, but at the 
approach of spring, after she had been married 
foui years, death released her from the union that 
had been secured at the cost of her young life. 

Tom Brown had gone on his way without a par- 
ent’s loving hand to stay his downward course. 
Father Loftion’s heart was filled with sorrow to 
find that Tom had not the strength to overcome 
his vices. He pleaded in vain with Tom to re- 
form before it was too late. Poor Tom made 
promise after promise, only to break them, but 
Tom was not alone to blame. When John Brown 
found his business in a great rush Tom was al- 
ways called to help secure the money that rolled 
over the bar. When there he was sure to be in- 
vited to join his companions in their glasses, and, 
being so good-hearted, he found it impossible to 
refuse. 

Money had become J ohn Brown’s god. He had 
no thought whatever in regard to his children’s 
welfare. 

Hettie begged and pleaded with Tom to give up 
drink and his ill-chosen companions, but, dearly as 
he loved her, the wayward boy found it impos- 
sible to heed her warning. 

Tom left his home one day to take a gunning 
trip with a number of his gay and reckless com- 
panions much to Hettie’s distress. She begged 
and pleaded with Tom to stop at home, but her 
pleadings were in vain. 

The gay party had been gone but ten days 
when Tom Brown’s body was brought home cold in 


A Worldly Woman. 147 

death. Sad to say, while Tom was under the 
influence of rum he had been carelessly handling 
his rifle, which was accidently discharged and the 
full contents pierced his heart. 

After Tom Brown’s funeral had taken place, 
Father Loftion called at the splendid home of 
John Brown. 

^'There is someone in the parlor, who wishes 
to see you, ma’am,” a new servant announced. 

^^Did they give you no card ?” 
ma’am.” 

Lettie Brown arranged the rich lace on her 
black crepe gown before she left her room to re- 
ceive her visitor. 

When Father Loftion found himself alone in 
Lettie Brown’s fine home his thoughts were very 
sad, for amid all the dazzling splendor there ap- 
peared an awful spectre to his mind, as he well 
knew this to be a divided household, where neither 
fear nor the love of God reigned. 

Lettie Brown appeared in all her haughty 
pride. Death had not left its cruel sting in Let- 
tie Brown’s cold heart. 

On seeing who her visitor was Mrs. Brown made 
him a cold, haughty bow, but Father Loftion cared 
little how the proud woman of the world received 
him. He had a duty to perform and was there for 
that purpose. 

‘^^Mrs. Brown, I am very sorry to hear that your 
son met such an untimely death, and I sincerely 
trust that you will profit by this warning and make 
peace with God. Take back to your heart the 
daughter whom you have disowned for marry- 
ing Arthur Long. God knows, woman, your fire- 


148 The Ambitions of 

side is desolate enough, for death has already 
claimed three of those precious pearls that have 
been delivered into your keeping, and you will 
most certainly be called upon by your God to give 
a just account of your stewardship in regard to 
these children/^ 

‘^Sir ! Who sent for you to come here to preach 
to me?’^ Lettie asked in rage. 

^^Madam, I did not wait for an invitation. I 
have come as God’s servant to try to show you the 
duty which you owe to your God and to your chil- 
dren.” 

“When I find that I am in need of 5^our aid, 
sir, I shall let you know.” 

“Woman, make peace with your God while you 
have time at hand. Kemove Harold from the life 
he is sure to follow. Do not let him have such an 
untimely end as Tom had. I beg of you in God’s 
name to give up this cursed business. You have 
reaped enough money by the sale of rum to last 
you your lifetime. Hear me before it is too 
late,” the young priest pleaded. 

“When your eloquence scares me into any such 
an act please let me know of it, James Loftion,” 
she said with a scornful laugh. 

Father Loftion arose to depart and, taking 
up his hat and gloves, he said: 

“Woman, woman, as you are sowing, so shall 
you reap. May God look down with mercy upon 
your worldly soul.” And with this parting bless- 
ing Father Loftion ended his visit to John &own’s 
home. 


A Worldly Woman. 


149 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The years had gone by. Summer time is 
again here and the country residence of Lettie 
Brown is once more thrown open to receive that 
proud woman^s friends. Everything was in a 
bustle and confusion. The carriages had gone 
to the station to bring back the guests to the home 
of their hostess, where everyone was sure to en- 
joy his visit. 

Lettie Brown appeared more haughty than 
ever, but she had lost none of her good looks. Her 
eyes seemed to grow brighter and her hair blacker. 

Hettie had grown pale and careworn. She felt 
deeply the many troubles that had been her lot 
and she greatly missed those loved ones who had 
gone to meet their God, while from the shock of 
Tom’s untimely death she had never recovered. 
As she sat upon the veranda of their beautiful 
country home her eyes had a far-off, dreamy look. 
Hettie was preparing for a better world than the 
one in which she had found so much sorrow. 

She was aroused from her reverie by the return 
of the carriages that contained her mother’s 
guests. After they had been received they went 


The Ambitions of 


150 

to the rooms that had been assigned to them during 
their stay. They soon appeared upon the rose-cov- 
ered veranda to enjoy the delightful summer 
breeze. 

Lettie Brown appeared in all her splendor with 
a young man of about three and thirty, who had 
a very handsome face and a most fascinating 
manner. 

^^Mr. Davenport, allow me to introduce you to 
my daughter.'’^ 

shall be pleased to meet your daughter, even 
though she is but half as fair as her mother,'’^ he 
replied. 

Hettie found no time for her mother’s hand- 
some guest. He flattered her mother even more 
than the other guests, and to Hettie’s pure soul 
this appeared uncalled for. 

Walter Davenport found that he was the lion 
of his proud hostess’ guests. 

He was always called upon to select the day and 
hour for a picnic, and it was always Mr. Davenport 
who drove out in company with his haughty host- 
ess. 

^^How I do wish father would come up here and 
stop this, even were he to stay but one week. I 
shall ask him this evening when he comes,” but 
when Hettie pleaded with her father to come up 
and enjoy a week’s rest, he replied: 

^^Why, Hettie, where would our business go to 
if I were to leave it in the hands of strangers?” 

^Tather, are you not rich enough without still 
having to look after your business so much?” 

‘^My dear, I shall have plenty of time to enjoy 
my life. I am getting up in years. I am sixty- 


A Worldly Woman. 15 1 

five now and your mother is not young, but Lettie 
wears her age and good looks well.” 

Hettie found it impossible to persuade her father 
to stay at home, and her heart grew sick, for well 
she knew it would be useless to think that her 
mother would even listen to her warning, so Lottie 
Brown was left alone without any restraining hand 
to hold her back from the dreadful avalanche that 
was steadily bearing upon her, and which would 
eventually cause her destruction. 

John Brown never bothered about whom his 
wife^s guests might be, for he trusted to his wife’s 
cold and haughty pride to guide her through her 
worldly life of pleasure; but, alas! by that very 
pride she was to bow his head in disgrace, and his 
proud name was to sink forever into dishonor. 

The long summer days flew rapidly by to the 
guests of Maple Crest, who little thought what an 
awful ending their summer pastime was to leave 
in its wake. 

Mr. Davenport’s company became more repug- 
nant to Hettie day by day, and, much to her 
mother’s anger, she snubbed the handsome guest 
without mercy. 

^^Hettie, why do you treat Mr. Davenport so 
rudely? You really surprise me.” 

‘^Well, mother, I think it would be well if youi 
handsome guest was taught to keep his place,’- 
Hettie replied. 


152 


The Ambitions of 


CHAPTEE XXIX. 

It is the dawn of another perfect June day, and 
the grand old ivy covered church of St. Mary’s 
is decked with handsome tree fern and palms, mak- 
ing a background for the beautiful roses and lilies 
that have been placed all over the building to lend 
beauty to the scene. The altar boys come and go 
in their pure white robes, the organ breaks forth 
into strains of heavenly music, the church is al- 
ready filled with people, rich and poor alike having 
mingled in the throng. 

Soon a fair young girl leaning upon the arm of 
a middle-aged man walks up the isle to the rose 
decked chancel. She is dressed in a wedding gown 
of magnificent ivory satin, while through the 
stained glass of the windows a sunbeam steals in 
and rests upon her beautiful golden hair, making 
a halo of glory. 

Father Loftion appears to perform the beautiful 
marriage ceremony that is to make two loving 
hearts one, and an exclamation of delight is heard 
throughout the church when the fair young girl’s 
father gives her hand to a handsome man of about 
eight and twenty. 


A Worldly Woman. 153 

^^Isn’t she beautiful ? How retiring and modest 
she is with all her wealth ! You would think her 
nothing more than the poor girl she was years ago 
when she went to school with me. She never was 
a proud girl, although she was always pointed out 
for her beauty/^ Maud Eiger remarked to one of 
her friends. 

'^And just think how rich her husband is.” 

^^Well, I think her father can count his wealth 
by the thousands now.^^ 

^^It seems like a fairy tale, doesn^t it? They 
were once so poor and now they are immensely 
wealthy,” Maud’s friend replied. 

After the marriage had been performed, and 
the handsome husband took his wife’s arm and 
escorted her to the carriage which was to take them 
to the splendid residence of Philip Burns, cheer 
after cheer arose from the throng. 

There was one who found no joy in the gay scene 
which had just taken place in the grand old church. 
Mary Long waited until all had left the scene of 
the wedding, and she was left alone with her own 
unhappy thoughts. 

‘^Oh, God!” she cried, thought my love for 
Harry Carstein had all died from my poor heart, 
but to-day has proven that I still love him. Oh, 
why was I led here to-day to look upon his hand- 
some face ; to see him look with such pleasure upon 
another ? Oh, God ! This has been a cruel blow 
to me when the entire love of my heart has been for 
him all these years, although he broke the vows he 
pledged to me. Ho, Harry Carstein, I must tear 
you from my heart. You have made me hate your 
handsome face. If you had but remained true to 


154 The Ambitions of 

\ 

those early vows, I should never have been guilty 
of such an act as deceiving the man who has given 
me the whole love of his true heart, and honors 
me with the name of wife, while I have given all 
the love of my proud heart to one so false. Good- 
bye, base deceiver. I have flung your imageyfrom 
my heart forever. Never, Harry Car stein, shall 
you know the misery which you have this day left 
within my broken heart. How Arthur Long would 
hate me if he knew how false I have been, but I 
shall try to right the great wrong I have done him,” 
and with this resolve Mary Long arose from her 
knees and left the quiet church to return to her 
own home. 

Hettie had returned home from Katie Burns’ 
grand wedding, and was surprised to see her 
mother enter her room. 

“Hettie, what is all this I hear of Katie Burns 
marrying such a wealthy man?” 

“What you hear is true, mother. Katie’s hus- 
band is a very wealthy man.” 

“Who is he, pray?” 

“His name is Harry Carstein.” 

“Where have I heard that name before ? Some- 
where I am sure.” 

“Yes, mother, and you have met him also. He 
was a guest here as a friend of Mary’s at Agnes’ 
wedding to Charles Penrose.” 

“Well, really, Hettie, I have forgotten it if I 
ever had the honor of meeting the gentleman, 
but there must be some mistake, as the young 
man of that name came here from Baltimore, while 
this Mr. Carstein who has married Katie Burns is 
from Eastern Pennsylvania. Besides, the young 


A Worldly Woman. 155 

man yon speak of had nothing to boast of but a 
clerkship in the office of his uncle^s warehouse/^ 

‘^This young man is the same poor clerk of 
whom you speak.” 

“Then, how does it come that he is a man of so 
much wealth now?” her mother asked. 

“Well, mother, after his mother’s death he left 
his old home in Baltimore and entered the business 
warehouse of Mr. Steele in Eastern Pennsylvania. 
At his employer’s death he became heir to all his 
wealth, Mr. Steele having had no children of his 
own,” Hettie replied. 

“What strange things do happen? It is like 
a novel ; but, Hettie, I shall detain you no longer, 
as it is already late.” 

When Lettie Brown reached her own room she 
walked the floor in rage and cursed herself for the 
mad blunder she had made. “Why did I write 
that cruel letter ! Only for my madness I might 
have had all the honors that Annie Burns received 
to-day. Oh, how I do hate her and her pink-faced 
daughter ; but, it is all past and done. What need 
I care? Never shall they know that it was my 
hand that parted them,” she thought, as she sank 
into a chair by the window, but not one spark 
of love nor pity entered her heart for the daughter 
she had wronged so in parting her from the man 
she loved so dearly. 

The summer had almost gone and the many 
guests who had enjoyed the beautiful country 
home of their hostess were preparing to say good- 
bye and return to their different homes. 

The last farewells had been said, and the car- 
riages driven from the door, but, much to Hettie’s 


The Ambitions of 


15b 

surprise, her mother’s handsome guest still re- 
mained. 

Hettie had become so ill after Harry Carstein’s 
wedding had passed that she now found it im- 
possible to leave her room, for that grim destroyer, 
consumption, was fast eating her life away. Her 
face had grown thin, and her magnificent eyes had 
lost their lustre, while upon her cheeks there ap- 
peared a hectic flush. Soon her earthly work 
would forever be at an end, and she would forever 
leave the earth where her sad and lonely life had 
found naught but sorrow and misery. 

^^Mother, why didn’t Mr. Davenport return to 
his home with the rest of your guests ?” 

^^Hettie, what business is it of yours if Mr. 
Davenport chooses to stay here after my other 
guests have gone?” 

^^If he were the gentleman you seem to think 
him, mother, he would have gone with the others.” 

^^Hettie, you always were hard to understand, 
and it is beyond my comprehension why you have 
taken such a marked dislike to Mr. Davenport, 
for I have never yet met a more perfect gentle- 
man, and I am sure his manners are delightful.” 

^^Well, mother, I pray you may never have cause 
to speak with sorrow of this man.” 

^^Why in Heaven’s name do you speak of Mr. 
Davenport in that manner? I really believe you 
must have a slight derangement of the brain.” 

‘^Ho, mother, I am as sane now as I have ever 
been, but within my heart I have a feeling that 
your handsome guest will leave ruin in his path. 
Oh, mother, for God’s sake grant me the last re- 
quest I shall ever ask of you. Dismiss this man 


A Worldly Woman. 157 

from your home. Tell him you find it impossible 
to entertain him, as I have become so very iiy^ 
Hettie pleaded. 

^^Hettie, do you mean to tell me my duty ? Am 
I not mistress of my own home? How dare you 
speak so to me? Mr. Davenport is welcome to 
stay here as my guest as long as he may see fit. 
You have shocked me by daring to imply that Mr. 
Davenporf s conduct is unbecoming that of a 
gentleman. Never let me hear you speak again 
as you have just done,” her mother exclaimed in 
rage. 

“I am sorry, mother, to see that what I have 
said has been the cause of making you so angry, 
but I have warned you. Beware of this man. 
Trust him not, mother;” but Hettie^s words fell 
upon deaf ears, and to her dismay she found her 
mother^s time completely taken up by the hand- 
some guest. 

October approached and found the summer in 
all its dying glory. The leaves came tossing down 
in great clouds, soon to be lost from view under a 
winter’s quilt of snow. 

The carriage stood at the door and Lettie Brown 
stepped out upon the veranda, dressed in a rich 
gown of hunter’s green broadcloth, trimmed with 
bands of beautiful sable fur. Mr. Davenport gave 
her his hand and helped her to the seat. Taking 
his place by her side they drove from the door. 
Many were the drives that were taken in the com- 
pany of her handsome guest. When the proud 
woman returned from the drive she found Hettie 
had been taken very ill. The doctor was present 
at her bedside, but Hettie needed not his aid. 


The Ambitions of 


158 

mother, I am so glad you have returned. 
My time is growing short upon this earth. Oh, 
mother, grant me the last request I shall ever ask 
of you. In God^s name, I beg you to dismiss your 
handsome guest from this house and let me die 
in peace. Do promise me, mother, that you will 
grant my prayer. It is for your own sake that 
I ask this;^^ but Hettie^s mother heeded not her 
pleading. 

The hour of midnight had struck when Hettie’s 
soul had gone to meet its God and merit its just 
reward after a weU spent life, where all had been 
overcast with pain and sorrow. 

Hettie’s funeral arrangements had all been com- 
pleted by the kind aid of Mr. Davenport. All was 
pomp and show. 'No expense was spared to make 
Hettie^s funeral a fashionable one. The last sad 
rites had been said and Hettie was placed in her 
silent tomb. 

The weeks passed by, yet Mr. Davenport was still 
the guest of Lettie Brown. 

^^Well, of all things! I don’t know what the 
master is thinking of! Faith, I should think he 
would just kick that fellow from the door.” 

^^Shure, Maggie, the masther is too much taken 
up in his business to heed who the misthress may 
choose for her companions,” Jim Smith replied. 

^Taith, I wish Miss Mary was in this house. 
We would soon see him go then. Poor girl, it has 
just been six years ago to-day since she was turned 
out of it herself by the proud mistress.” 

^^Well, it’s nothing to us, Maggie, for the mis- 
thress knows her own heart.” 

The long winter days drew to a close, and the 


A Worldly Woman. 159 

month of May was heralded in by thousands of 
glad-voiced song birds, while the air was heavy 
with the perfume of cherry and apple blossoms. 

Mr. Davenport had gone, much to Maggie 
Burke^s delight. Ten days after his departure 
the proud mistress packed her trunk to go on a 
pleasure trip. 

The fifteenth of June drew nigh, but Lettie 
Brown did not return, and John Brown awoke to 
the fact that his wife had fied with her handsome 
guest. 

The injured man tore his hair and beat his 
breast when he found that his wife had dragged his 
name in the dust. He went from one pleasure re- 
sort to another hoping to find his guilty wife and 
the handsome villain who had ruined his life and 
home, but his search was unsuccessful, for he found 
neither his wife nor the handsome Mr. Davenport. 

The press rang with the scandal of Lettie 
Brown’s elopement, and her stricken husband and 
children sat in their magnificent home plunged into 
the depths of misery at their disgrace. 

Mary Long came back to her home to try and 
comfort her father in his sorrow, and with her 
husband and children she remained there through- 
out the remainder of her life, taking up the place 
in her father’s darkened home that her mother 
had left forever. ^^What has all my father’s great 
wealth brought him after his toil?” she thought; 
‘^nothing but misery and sorrow.” 

Happier far was the poorest man in that busy 
town than her father in his grand home, amid all 
his wealth and splendor. 

After Mary had taken up her place in her 


The Ambitions of 


i6o 

father’s home she learned of the awful wrong that 
had been done her, for Alice Murphy confessed 
what had been done with the stolen letters. ^^How 
deeply I have wronged the man I once loved so 
dearly,” she thought. Aloud she said : 

^‘God forgive my proud mother’s deception.” 

Lettie Brown and her guilty partner had gone 
from place to place and from city to city, having 
no fixed place of residence. No remorse filled her 
proud heart at the disgraceful step she had taken. 

"Come, Lettie, dear, do make those deeds and 
bonds over to me, for I am the proper person to 
have them. What use are they to you, dear? 
Perhaps I may be able to turn them into gold for 
you, and money is far better in Europe than those 
bonds would be. Do as I wish you, Lettie dear,” 
he pleaded. 

"If I thought you would really leave at once for 
Europe I would grant your request,” she an- 
swered. 

"Do let me have them, Lettie. This is only 
Tuesday, and by Saturday next we shall be sailing 
far away over the wide Atlantic,” the handsome 
villain said. 

"Well, my dear, those bonds and deeds you have 
begged so hard for shall he yours this very night. 
Come, let me take you for them, so that we may 
start on our journey as soon as possible, for you 
know I am just wild to cross the sea,” the haughty 
woman said. 

"Lettie, dear, you always give me my own way. 
Have we not been very happy since I asked you to 
flee with me? It would break my heart, Lettie, 
dear, if anything were to part us,” the false man 


A Worldly Woman. i6i 

said, as he stooped to implant a kiss upon her fair 
brow after he had received all the wealth she pos- 
sessed. 

The following days were busy ones for her. 
Her spirits ran wild with delight when she thought 
of how she would enjoy the gay life of Europe. 

She was tired of the gay life she had led since 
fleeing from her own grand home, where she had 
ruled all with a high and mighty hand. Little 
she knew that in a few short hours her head would 
be bowed low, and her cold, haughty heart crushed 
by the hand of the cruel villain to whom she had 
given up her all. Her proud life was soon to close 
in misery and sorrow. 

The twenty-fifth day of August, which was to 
mark their departure for Europe, dawned. Lettie 
arose from her couch and made herself ready to 
depart from the hotel. Einging the bell she re- 
quested the servant to serve her breakfast in her 
room, as Mr. Davenport had gone to transact 
some business three days before in regard to the 
bonds and consols, which were to be turned into 
gold before they left for Europe. 

She waited until she grew weary for Walter 
Davenport to return, but he came not. Making 
herself ready she was about to leave the hotel in 
search of him when she was met by a servant in 
the hall who gave her a telegram. 

She hastily tore it open, thinking perhaps that it 
contained news of the man for whom she was wait- 
ing. When she read the cruel lines they became 
stamped upon her heart in cruel letters of flame. 

Emitting a scream, awful in its horror, she fell 
lifeless to the floor. The servants carried her back 


i 62 


The Ambitions of 


to the room which she had so shortly left in all 
her glory. A doctor was called, but he found it 
impossible to rouse her from the death-like stupor. 

Weeks passed before the life that had al- 
most gone out showed signs of returning. Dur- 
ing her first moment of consciousness she inquired 
for one of the servants, who was sent to her bed- 
side. 

^Take this key, Mary,’^ she said in a weak, 
trembling voice, ^^and open my largest trunk. 
In the corner of it you will find my jewel casket. 
Bring it to me.’^ 

The servant returned with a handsome inlaid 
case, which Lettie took in her own weak hands. 
Detaching a key from a slender gold chain which 
hung from her neck, she opened the jewel case, 
when much to her surprise she found all her jewels 
gone. 

‘^Oh, God!” she exclaimed. have been 
duped and ruined forever by that heartless wretch. 
He has left me penniless and alone — an outcast 
from my home,” and she fell back upon her pil- 
low raving mad. 

When it was learned that the handsome Mr. 
Davenport had gone and taken with him all her 
money, she was removed from the hotel and 
placed in a cot in the ward of a charity hospital, 
with not a friend to look down upon her in pity. 

A sweet-faced Sister of Charity sat by her cot 
bathing her fevered brow, but shrank back in terror 
at the terrible curses which fell from Lettie^s lips 
upon the man who had lured her from her 
home. 

One September day a number of strangers were 


A Worldly Woman. 163 

walking through the wards of the hospital. 
Among them was a clergyman, who looked about 
eight and forty — a man who was sure to command 
respect from all who came his way. 

When the party of visitors drew near and stopped 
at a cot to pity a poor woman who still retained 
traces of a former beauty, she became calm for a 
moment and looked up into the clergyman’s face, 
but as she met his gaze she uttered a piercing 
shriek. 

^Tather Loftion! Why of all others have you 
been sent to look upon my misery ?” and she again 
started to rave in her awful madness. 

^^Who can this poor soul be who has spoken my 
name? My friends, I must leave you to your 
pleasure while I go to see if I can ascertain who 
this poor woman is. Perhaps I may be able to com^ 
fort her,” saying which he left his friends and 
proceeded to search the hospital records. 


The Ambitions of 


164 


CHAPTER XXX. 

In the busy town of C many great 

changes have taken place. In connection with 
St. Mary’s Church there has been erected a fine 
school building and a large temperance hall, and 
we also notice as we drive through the town a 
large carriage factory and a handsome business 
block. A carriage drawn by two beautiful chest- 
nut cobs, resplendent in glittering trappings, ap- 
proaches the curb while a young man with great 
love and devotion comes to assist a pale, sweet, 
sad-faced woman with silvery hair to alight. 

All this has been built as a monument to the 
greatness of God’s mercy and Reverend Father 
Loftion’s temperance pledge, as this fine block 
and carriage factory come under the name of 
“Philip Burns & Son,” and the sweet, pale-faced 
woman is Philip Burns’ faithful wife, who, never 
in her darkest hour despaired of God’s great 
mercy. She had been tried, as it were, with fire, 
and had not proven herself dross but pure gold, 
and has it not been said that ^‘those whom God lov- 
eth, he chastiseth” ? 


A Worldly Woman. 165 

Thus closes the happiness and prosperity in 
these pages for Philip Burns, but to again take 
up a more sad ending of one who had wealth and 
received renown as a leader of the empty society 
circles. She had sacrificed everything to gain, 
only to lose her own immortal soul in the end. 


The Ambitions of 


1 66 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

Father Loftion at last found the name of 
the unhappy woman who had spoken his name. 
He returned to her side and waited to learn if 
she would again regain her senses. When he in- 
quired if she had called for a priest, the nun an- 
swered : 

^^No, she has never asked for a priest, and when 
I spoke of it she laughed at my question.” 

Father Loftion lingered near in the vain hope 
that she would regain her senses, but Lettie Brown 
had no such good luck, for she died in her madness 
and her sin-ladden soul had gone to meet its God 
in all its awful guilt. ‘^The wages of sin is death,” 
and this proud, haughty woman of the world had 
truly sown ^^but to reap.” 

John Brown received a letter telling him of his 
once proud and beautiful wife’s sad death, but 
he relented not toward the remains of the woman 
who had bowed his head so low in disgrace. Ho 
sorrow or charity entered his heart foi her whom 
he had honored by the name of wife. 

When in a far distant city a funeral took place 

from the ward of a charity hospital, a clergyman 


A Worldly Woman. 167 

and a woman of about five and sixty, with silver 
hair, and a sad, sweet face, accompanied by a beau- 
tiful young girl with magnificent golden hair, 
leaning upon the arm of a handsome young man, 
were the only ones who followed the sad funeral 
train, and but for the love and charity of these 
four, Lettie Brownes body would have been in- 
terred in a pauper’s grave. 

When the last resting place of the proud, world- 
ly woman was reached, all gave voice to one sol- 
emn prayer. 

^‘'May God have mercy upon Lettie Brown’s 
soul. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
us from evil. Amen.” 

In a Catholic cemetery, in a beautiful corner 
and all alone, in a spot which has been reserved 
for all those who may die enemies to their God, 
a handsome marble shaft has been erected, con- 
taining these simple words: 

MOTHER. 

From thy faithful daugther, Hettie. 

Such was the goodness of Philip Burns’ wife 
and daughter in memory of the great kindness 
Hettie Brown had shown them in years gone by, 
when their humble home had been overcast by 
poverty and the dreadful curse of rum. What 
greater virtue than those of Faith, Hope and 
Charity ? 

In Harry Carstein’s fine home three happy 
children romp and play at the knees of a tall young 
man whom they all dearly love and who has been 


1 68 The Ambitions of 

an inmate of their happy parents’ h6me for 
years. 

Harry Carstein’s wealth has made no change 
in his love for the poor shipwrecked orphan boy 
whom he met long years before in Mr. Steele’s 
business warehouse. He had insisted upon Nor- 
man Grant sharing the wealth that Mr. Steele had 
left him heir to. 

No worldly pride has entered their happy home, 
and peace and love and God’s holy grace reign 
there. 


THE 

END. 




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